christiaan
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Post by christiaan on Jan 25, 2013 20:12:17 GMT 2
In 2006 I had to great opportunity to visit Russia for a second time to lecture. On this trip my wife went with me. We arrived in Moscow and had about 5 hours to visit the Red Square, Bolshoi theater, KGB building and ground zero. Moscow has some really impressive cars. Expensive Bentley's, porches, Merc's and Ferrari's just pop up like I haven't seen in SA.
In Samara (spelled CAMAPA) there was more Russian cars. Lots of Lada's. Samara is a big beautiful city on the shore of the massive Volga river. On the other side of the Volga is the city of Tolyatti were the manufactured the Lada's.
I took a pick of this Lada in Tolyatti
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christiaan
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Post by christiaan on Jan 25, 2013 20:21:49 GMT 2
Lets try again to post the pic Sorry, my pics are too big and it will take a while to resize.
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spikes
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Post by spikes on Jan 25, 2013 20:38:59 GMT 2
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christiaan
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Post by christiaan on Jan 25, 2013 20:50:53 GMT 2
OK, lets try again. A typical Tolyatti Lada. It was autum so the cars were pretty clean.
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christiaan
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Post by christiaan on Jan 25, 2013 21:07:22 GMT 2
We had a driver that took us to Tolyatti for the night lectures. His name was Nicolai. He had a different style sedan Lada. Boy 'O Boy that was a "Doodskis op wiele" (coffin on wheels). He would answer his cellphone all the time and if he took one of his hands of the steering wheel it would swing into the oncoming traffic's lane and hooters will hoot. The wheel alignment was so far out that the skedonk would point to the oncoming lane like a crab walking sideways. It was scary stuff and the most terrifying ride I have ever been on. We drove back to Samara at about 11 PM. The Non-alignment-rattlebox of a Lada cut out three times in the dark night and he would fiddle with the petrol pump and filter with his one hand and his Bic lighter as only light source in the other hand. Russia is an adventure. This is Nicolai's Lada Rattle-box.
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christiaan
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Post by christiaan on Jan 25, 2013 21:22:37 GMT 2
The Russians don't like to be Photographed by outsiders so I had to "steal" quick pic's. They couldn't understand my fascination with the Lada Niva's. Samara is littered with them and they say its a bad car. They didn't know what they have. I wish I took more pics. Many innovative fittings and interesting accessories. Many had roof racks. They told me you even get a plow fitting. Many Russians are very poor and they have a little piece of land, about 100mx100m where they plant potatoes in the summer to carry them through the 9 months of winter. Some use Lada's to plow the ground (I didn't see it just heard the stories) They say the most important thing on a Lada is to change the oil regularly and change the Anti-freeze every spring and autumn when they change the Tyre's. Anti-freeze change to them is more important that regular service.
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christiaan
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Post by christiaan on Jan 25, 2013 21:53:19 GMT 2
I really liked the 5 door Vaz (Baz) Lada Niva's. I saw quite a few in Samara even though they were fewer than the 3 door versions. I wish I could get one of those to SA. Even if it is a left hand. In fact a Left hand would be great. 4 years ago I got completely deaf in my left ear due to virus so I can't follow a conversation in the car anymore. If I sit on the left I could hear the wife and family again while driving. Yes, if I could get a left hand 5 door Lada I would break the porcelain piggy to buy it. It seems I don't have a nice pic of a 5 door so this one will have to do. (Rest will follow later ... )
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spikes
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Post by spikes on Jan 26, 2013 8:32:47 GMT 2
The Russians don't like to be Photographed by outsiders so I had to "steal" quick pic's. They couldn't understand my fascination with the Lada Niva's. Samara is littered with them and they say its a bad car. They didn't know what they have. I wish I took more pics. Many innovative fittings and interesting accessories. Many had roof racks. They told me you even get a plow fitting. Many Russians are very poor and they have a little piece of land, about 100mx100m where they plant potatoes in the summer to carry them through the 9 months of winter. Some use Lada's to plow the ground (I didn't see it just heard the stories) They say the most important thing on a Lada is to change the oil regularly and change the Anti-freeze every spring and autumn when they change the Tyre's. Anti-freeze change to them is more important that regular service. Interesting to note the numerous chimneys in the building behind the NIVA. Ronnie, this may be a solution to the cold garage ;D
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spikes
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Post by spikes on Jan 26, 2013 8:33:56 GMT 2
Thanks Christiaan,
Glad you got the picture size sorted out.
Spikes
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Post by Deleted on Jan 26, 2013 8:38:22 GMT 2
That's an awesome story and the pics are fantastic as well
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Post by ronnie on Jan 26, 2013 11:39:26 GMT 2
Hi Spikes
I managed to borrow a 12kw fan assisted gas heater and that heats the garage nicely. I am using a 4.1kw gas heater at the moment and it is slightly better than the 3kw electric one.
Ronnie
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