That crazshee Dutch guy, Biglorryblog contributor and all-round good egg, Tim de Jong has been playing and he's sent me news of his playtime. He says: "Hi Brian, y
esterday your faithful BLB spy was at the famous Nurburgring, to learn all about the great and innovative initiatives from ZF. Luckily, it wasn't all nuts and bolts, but also some test-driving too. ZF was pretty keen to make us aware of the fact that the Russian truck maker Kamaz is one of their loyal customers. So apart from the everyday MAN TGX, Iveco Stralis and DAF XF 105 equipped with ZF boxes, intarders and the like, there was also the Kamaz 5460 featuring a 400 hp V8 Cummins Euro 3 engine with a ZF Ecosplit 16 speed box fixed on it." And guess who got a go in it? Step forward TDJ! He tells Biglorryblog: "Finally, after all those years in this exciting business, I had my go with a Kamaz. The interior is so small, that it can't be photographed properly. A 'huge' steering wheel featuring the spectacular logo with sprinting horse, an old-fashioned dashboard with analogue tachograph, and relatively small windows and mirrors all give the feeling as if I was in some sort of armoured vehicle!"
Tim goes on to say: "The Cummins engine grunted and while ferociously heaving the gearstick around, I accelerated with vigour from the Nurburgring pit-lane. Fortunately I'm familiar with the double H gearshift pattern. It struck me that this truck is 'alive' like Harley-Davidson motorcycles are---you're very much aware of all the moves and motions of the bit of machinery you're controlling. The steering wheel needs lots of work at the sharp Nurburgring bends. The engine needs revs too, so before you know it, you're hard at work to control just this 'loose' tractor. And with lots of noise make no mistake this is an 'eighties' truck."
Now click through here for more of Tim's adventures...
Meanwhile Tim tells me: "I fought my way 'round the circuit, which was lovely. It was hard work with a big smile. The Kamaz reacted predictably at each and every turn, with the engine pulling nicely. After this unforgettable lap, which was a leap in the past, the Russian driver took over. And he showed that all this can be done a whole lot faster, using the splitter much more frequently. He drifted through all bends, although the Kamaz remained predictable as ever. Power sliding around we had great fun and this Vladimir even went on powersliding when entering the pitlane!"
And there, says Tim, was another Kamaz vehicle "....waiting patiently and threateningly for me to come on board. We'd heard it and seen it and when it passed and disappeared below the horizon, you could still smell a heavy whiff of burned rubber from its big tyres. The Kamaz test driver was merciless, that was for sure! It was the 4911 race truck we know from the Dakar rally. I say truck, but it's really a fighting machine. With 730hp 'officially' on tap and checking in at just fifteen tonnes, this monster powerslid around all over the ring and sometimes alongside it when a journalist in a larger and slower vehicle wasn't paying attention to his mirrors. Oomphing big black clouds of smoke and a lovely, tremendous noise, this monster showed what Kamaz can do....if it uses a ZF box of course! All-in-all it was unforgettable and you'd want more of this. A lap around the Ring goes by very quickly---I was actually quite comfortable in the 'professional' seat especially as I was kept in place by those big tight four point seat belts. Cooling down from the excitement I was wondering where I could have a swig of vodka...Nazdarovje, Kamaz! Ah well, back down to earth and home for a regular cup of tea again. And sweet memories! Cheers Tim."
Comments (2)
The V8 Cummins,is that a V903?
Posted by Cam McFadyen | July 10, 2008 12:00 PM
Posted on July 10, 2008 12:00
I am not quite sure, but I think that 'russian driver Vladimir' could possibly be Vladimir Chagin, multiple winner of Dakar.
Posted by Vasily | August 23, 2008 5:50 PM
Posted on August 23, 2008 17:50