Bushwhacker Rally 2014

Bushwhacker Rally 2014

Rocks and Rolls

Text and Photos: Reinis Babrovskis

Irish rallying is mental… The narrow, bumpy and fast flowing tarmac roads are famous across the globe – many famous drivers including Colin Mcrae, Sebastien Loeb, Mikko Hirvonen have come here in the past to test themselves as well as their machines against these challenging roads. 

Audi R8

Audi R8 V10 Spyder

Topless is more fun

Text and photos: Reinis Babrovskis

We can all agree that supercars are crazy, silly and unpractical yet somehow we just can’t stop admiring them. They are designed to look astonishing, sound scary and go ridiculously fast. One thing they are not designed to do though is to behave like normal cars. In my opinion many of them just get lost in the real world –(again here?) they (just?) don’t fit in on the public roads nor do they look right at home on a track, so where do they belong? It seems supercars are just toys, an expensive interior decoration for a fancy garage. However one of the supercars that managed to break the stereotype was the magnificent Audi R8.

Lexus IS 350

Lexus IS 350

Quantum44’ed Lexus

Text and Photos: Reinis Babrovskis

Toyota Altezza (or Your Highness in Italian) entered the Japanese car market back in 1998; a more civilised version under the name IS was offered to the rest of the world from the Toyota sister brand - Lexus. Both of the cars were designed as the entry-level sport/luxurious models and gained huge success in both markets; the men in the suits loved it, so did the boys with the racing gloves and a heavier right foot. It was so popular in Ireland in fact I believe half of the vehicles manufactured ended up there.

Opel Kadett C

Opel Kadett C

Barn Find

Photos and text: Reinis Babrovskis

Abandoning a car, furthermore a classic, somewhere in a dark and cold barn leaving the rust to eat away something that once was so magnificent should be classified as a crime against the humanity. Luckily there are many good folks around the world, including Phil from Northern Ireland, who take on the tough challenge to rescue the forgotten cars and return them to the glorious state they were once in. While the majority of petrol heads would restore classics like Ford Escort MK II, VW Beetle or VW Camper van, Phil took up a very unusual project – Opel Kaddett C.

Trackpirate Dyno Shoot Out

Trackpirate Dyno Shoot Out

Do you Even Tune Bro?

Photos and Text: Reinis Babrovskis

What makes a great man…? A great car with power, lots of it…
Trackpirate Dyno Shoot Out was hosted at the local tuning company East Coast Customs in Lisburn, Northern Ireland on Saturday 25th October. In the battle for the greatness around 30 FWD, RWD and 4WD cars got on the dyno stand to check how many horses were trapped under their bonnets.

Dodge Charger

1969 DODGE CHARGER

The General Lee

Text and Photos: Reinis Babrovskis

The Dodge Charger is a car that requires no introductions; it is one of the world’s most respected American Muscle cars; with five generations on offer there was a design to please any taste. The second generation Charger may’ve been in the production for just as little as 3 years (1968-1970); however, it made a huge impact on the history of American Muscle cars and it still remains one of the most desired Chargers. It has been a superstar of multiple Hollywood movies, like Bullitt (sp), Blade, Death Proof & Fast and Furious and above all the TV series and movie - the Dukes of Hazard. 

Supercar Sunday

Hillsborough International Oyster Festival 2014 - Supercar Sunday

Somebody said Supercars?

Text and Photos: Reinis Babrovskis

The charity event Supercar Sunday was held on 7th September at Sprucefield’s Park & Ride, as part of the five day Hillsborough International Oyster Festival. The Park and Ride location ideally explained the concept of this event – people arrived, parked their cars and took a ride; however the Ulsterbuses were replaced with some of the world’s most expensive and fastest supercars. An incredible sum of £5800 was raised for Autism NI making this a truly successful event.

ShoWerks LevelUp 2

SHOWERKS LEVEL UP 2

Boys and Girls - This is how it's done...

Text and Photos: Reinis Babrovskis

After the recent fluke at the Belfast Motor Show in Kings Hall the petrol heads were demanding blood, so the local car enthusiasts from ShoWerks showed how it’s done by hosting the LevelUp car show. The event returned to the multi-storey car park in Bangor on August 3rd, 2014. It certainly wasn’t their first go at organizing a car event and even though it wasn’t the biggest nor the most attended car show in Northern Ireland, the quality of the cars present and the atmosphere didn’t let anybody down.

Formula 1 - Belgian Grand Prix 2014

F1 GRAND PRIX - CIRCUIT DE SPA FRANCORCHAMPS 2014

This is SPAAAAA 

Photos and Text: Reinis Babrovskis

In the deep forests and countryside of the Belgian Ardennes lies a race circuit feared, respected and loved by many racing drivers. Despite the fact it has claimed many victims over the years somehow it remains one of the world’s most popular racing circuits and it seems that drivers can’t have enough of it. Ladies and gentleman – this is Spa!

FIA ERC auto24 Rally Estonia 2014

Forests, Lakes and Rally Cars

Text and Photos: Reinis Babrovskis

Estonia joined the FIA ERC 2014 Championship as a newcomer hosting the round 7 Auto24 Rally Estonia 2014 on July 17-19. The Northern country of the Baltic States shares very similar weather and road conditions to the neighbouring Finland, with very fast, smooth and open gravel roads; however, multiple jumps and some very narrow, twisty forest sections were thrown in for a bit of challenge.

WRC Sardegna 2014

Jumping in the Dust

Photos and Text: Reinis Babrovskis

Jumping in the dust…quite literally – Rally D’Italia Sardegna offers drivers truly mind blowing jumps that are taken blind through the huge clouds of dust over the crests on narrow, mountainous roads. If that’s not enough, challenges include immense heat, sharp rocks, hidden dips and high stone walls. Along with the best wine and food on the planet, beautiful beaches and weather, this makes it one of the greatest rallies in the World Rally Championship calendar. 

Audi A5

Rollin’on the Twenties

Photos and Text: Reinis Babrovskis

We love our big weekend toys, but the reality is we can’t really live with them on a daily basis. No matter how big of petrol head one would be, asking a potential customer in his Armani custom tailored suit to climb into a bucket seat and strap themselves in the harnesses might not really be the best first impression. We all do need this one sensible car that does take us from A to B, and necessarily not sideways or under 4 seconds. When the sun is shining Conor gets the adrenaline fix from his stunning V6 facelift Honda NSX; however, when the dreadful Monday returns and it is time to face another nerve wrecking working week, he swaps the high revving and screaming beast to this calm, quiet and beautiful Audi A5.  

Shelby Mustang GT500E - The Eleanor

Shelby Mustang GT500E

THE NEMESIS – ELEANOR

Text and Photos: Reinis Babrovskis

What is the greatest thing to come out from America? Is it McDonalds, Baseball, or maybe Elvis Presley? No! It’s their legendary American muscle cars. 

Vauxhall International North West 200

Vauxhall International North West 200

Photos and Text: Reinis Babrovskis

Audi TT

Ryan’s Audi TT

Text and Photos: Reinis Babrovskis

What’s common between the supercar Audi R8, classic Alfa 156, facelift VW Scirocco and the Audi TT Mk.II? It’s the world famous Italian car designer Walter de’Silva. His approach to creating a successful car design is very simple – curves, draw lots of them. Men like women with curves – it’s a fact, so why should cars be any different. And it works…damn well as well, I must admit.  

Giro d'Italia 2014

Day 1 action from the World famous Giro d'Italia race held in Belfast, Northern Ireland

Quantum 44

Customer: Quantum44

Location: Northern Ireland
Photographer: Reinis Babrovskis
Date: 24/03/2014