'Driving' Mr Jackson

Diehard fans drive around Singapore in MJ-decorated car

IT was something they had been planning for seven months - with no idea it would happen only after their idol's death.

THE MJ CAR: In the driver's seat is Ms Sheilu. In the back seat are Ms Gauri (without mask) and their friend. TNP PICTURE: KUA CHEE SIONG

Ms Gauri Susheela, 26, her younger sister Sheilu, 21, and a friend, who declined to be named, are diehard fans of Michael Jackson.

The King of Pop died suddenly at his home in Los Angeles last Thursday, shocking millions worldwide.

But before news of that broke, the women already had plans to show their appreciation of Jackson's music by driving around Singapore in a car decorated with his pictures, playing nothing but his hit songs.

When The New Paper met the trio at a multi-storey carpark at Jalan Kukoh on Wednesday, they were hard at work putting the finishing touches to two banners they had made in memory of Jackson.

There was a picture montage of the King of Pop through the various stages of his music career, along with the huge spray-painted words 'Michael, We Love You Forever' and 'MJ: 1958 - Forever'.

They hung the banners on a Kia Rio they had rented for a day - one across the bonnet, the other over the rear bumper.

The girls then whizzed off, driving the car around town and blasting the speakers with MJ songs.

They drove through Chinatown and Orchard Road and past VivoCity.

Ms Sheilu said the idea had emerged some months ago because they had felt that the masses had somehow neglected Jackson.

'We tried to find his old albums in record shops and couldn't,' she said indignantly.

'When we go clubbing and ask for an MJ tune, the deejays refuse to play his songs.

'They will play Madonna, Justin Timberlake, but not Michael. That's when we decided we had to do a celebration of his music, in a unique drive-about around town.'

But Wednesday's road trip turned out to be a sad affair for them.

'We are still devastated by the news (of Jackson's death). This was something we had wanted to do while he was living, to celebrate his life,' said Ms Susheela.

'Unlike some of MJ's fans who have been following his career for over 20 years, we got seriously into his music less than a year ago.'

Ms Susheela said she has read or watched every single one of Jackon's interviews, memorised his lyrics and even attempted to decipher the meaning behind them.

Ms Sheilu, who is currently self-employed, said her adoration for Jackson was more personal. 'Seven months ago, I was going through severe depression, feeling that there was no meaning or purpose to my existence.

'It was Michael's songs that made me realise that love is in every corner, all around us.'

Attention-grabbing

The car caught the attention of passers-by.

When the trio set off, they got curious stares from retirees taking a stroll around Chinatown and Chin Swee Road.

As they approached HarbourFront Centre, a few cars started honking and other drivers gave a thumbs-up before driving past.

Outside VivoCity, secondary school student Stephanie Kaur, 15, said she found the MJ car very cool.

'They were playing the music very loud and everyone just turned to look at it, trying to read the words on the banners,' she said.

As Ms Sheilu turned the car into Orchard Road, a guy rolled down his vehicle's window and hollered at them: 'I love MJ too!'

Miss Mahes, a 21-year old student, said she 'applauded the time and effort the girls put in'.

'I'm not a hardcore MJ fan, but I like his songs,' she said.

'Seeing these girls' expression of their love for him, I must say it's kind of touching.'

Formula Drift Singapore Series 2009

Hundreds caught with illegal plates

Over 700 motorists hauled up in first four months of this year alone

THEY are bright, stylish and illegal.

And they are hot, so much so that some car owners are willing to risk a jail term of up to three months just so they could have number plates that look good even though they do not conform with Land Transport Authority (LTA) stipulations, such as European Union-style ones.

The LTA told my paper that 726 drivers were caught in the first four months this year for such offences. For the whole of last year, only 2,039 were caught.

Car workshops told mypaper that such licence plates are still flying off the shelves despite the severe penalty.

On the average, the workshops said they each receive between 35 and 50 requests per month from drivers wanting to switch to the illegal licence plates which can cost between $40 and $65 each, depending on the size and design.

Mr S. L. Teo, 32, from Autozone Motoring, said: "There will always be a demand for the nicer ones that are illegal.

"The approved ones have too many restrictions in terms of how they should look and how big they should be."

Another workshop operator, Deck Carcraft's Jackson Kang, 27, said: "Customers are willing to take the risk even after we tell them the plates are not approved ones.

"To them, how their car looks is more important."

Another reason smaller plates appeal to drivers is to avoid detection by the authorities.

Illegal plates that use reflective fonts and contain ornamental marks alongside the vehicle's registration number may make it difficult to read the car's licence number when the vehicle is moving, for example, when it is involved in a hit-and-run accident.

A staff member of a workshop, who declined to be named, said: "The majority of the drivers come with heavily modified cars they use in illegal races and the smaller the plates, the harder it would be for the Traffic Police to read them."

According to LTA guidelines on the One.Motoring website, approved licence plates should have letters and figures that are 70mm high, 50mm wide and 10mm broad.

However, illegal plates usually have fonts that are between 10mm and 15mm smaller than stipulated by the LTA.

A spokesman for LTA said drivers caught with plates that do not conform to requirements face a fine of up to $1,000 or a jail term of up to three months.

In addition, the drivers would have to have the defective plates made good within seven days or risk facing a maximum fine of $2,000 or six months' jail the penalty for repeat offenders.

THE future OF cars

It looks like a flying saucer and is powered by fan blades. Infographics journalist CEL GULAPA sketches what might well be how we will travel in future...

SOURCE: ENTECHO, GIZMAG, ELITECHOICE & NEXTBIGFUTURE

THE Hoverpod could very well revolutionise air travel.

Australian company Entecho has come up with a prototype of a flying machine that resembles a flying saucer and uses fan technology to give it lift.

The CAV or compact air vehicle has vertical take-off and landing ability, and can be launched from anywhere and fly over any surface like water, sand or snow.

The vehicle can hover up to 1.5m above ground and can cruise at maximum speed of 120kmh.

The disc-shaped chassis carries a person or payload in the centre.

Air is drawn from the upper side of the aircraft, then forced downward through the rotors, which spin inside the shell of the aircraft. (See graphics.)

The resulting pressure propels the aircraft off the ground.

Flexible skirt

At the bottom of the aircraft is a flexible skirt which can be pulled or released. This directs the flow of air and consequently, the direction of the aircraft. Steering is done using a joystick.

The huge blades which enable it to hover are hidden, making it safer as compared to helicopters, which have exposed blades.

The Hoverpod will also save space and operational cost as it does not need runways or airports. It can fit in a garage.

The Hoverpod can be used for recreational activities such as beach rides and for emergencies like marine rescue operations.

The Hoverpod is still in the development stage, but it is believed by the time it becomes a reality, the flying car should be able to deploy solar or even fuel cell technology to power its flight.

WHAT MAKES IT FLY

1 ROTOR

The compact auto vehicle rotor is a cylindrical drum fan which rotates about the central vertical axis of the craft where the rider is.

2 AIRFLOW

As the drum fan rotates, it pumps air radially through its blades. The air is drawn in and is then accelerated as it passes through the fan. It is then directed downward by the skirt, creating lift.

3 HIGH PRESSURE

High-pressure regions form as a result of the air being accelerated through the ducts by the rotating fan blades. These regions of high pressure produce powerful lifting forces.

4 LIFT OFF

The vehicle is lifted as a result of all the forces joining together.

HOW IT TURNS

The 'skirt' is a flexible nozzle that harbours Hoverpod's entire airstream. By controlling its movement, the craft's direction is steered.

Choo set to debut in Super GT with Mosler

SINGAPORE will make its debut at the Kuala Lumpur leg of the 2009 Super Grand Touring (GT) race series this weekend.

Melvin Choo, the Republic's top touring-car driver, will represent American manufacturer Mosler Automotive as he drives its MT900R at the Sepang International Circuit.

He added that it is a "wonderful opportunity" to be given the chance to drive what he called "the dream car".

Currently, the MT900R is being featured in GT races across Britain, where it is dominating the races.

Capable of reaching speeds of 200kmh in under 10 seconds, the car is fitted with a seven-litre engine and is capable of producing horsepower well in excess of 500bhp.

For the Super GT race at Sepang, the $607,000 car will be restricted to just 300bhp.

This is in keeping with the rules and regulations of the GT300 Class - which Choo and co-driver Martin Short will take part in.

GT Association chairman Masaaki Bandoh said the duo's participation in the race held "deep significance" for the event and its supporters.

He added that it was a strong wish of his to have Singapore included as part of the nine-leg touring-car series, and hinted that "there have been offers from various South-east Asian countries, including Singapore", which are interested in hosting a stage of the GT Series.

For now, though, Choo remains focused on his maiden race on Saturday. He added: "The race is a physical challenge, but we remain cautiously optimistic.

"I know the track well and we believe I have a fair chance of doing well.

"Let's just hope for a good result."

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