The Caspian Sea Monster

Off-topic Sunday time, because this is just too bonkers not to share.

During some research for a book I'm writing the word 'ekranoplan' came up. It's the Russian for ground force and was mentioned in reference to the radical aircraft, the KM, of 1966. This enormous mutant aircraft was designed to be too heavy to fly conventionally, but could carry huge loads, much bigger than conventional cargo planes of the day, because it used the pressure of ground force to keep it above the surface of the sea. It was the world's largest plane for it's whole lifespan, and only bettered by the Antonov AN-225 Mriya, an enormous, but regular aircraft that first flew in 1988.

US spy planes spotted it being tested on the Caspian Sea and gave it the nickname, Caspian Sea Monster. It wasn't the only Soviet ekranoplan, but it is the most incredible. Later iterations showed it laden with, and using, top-mounted missile launchers. It seems the monster crashed due to pilot error in 1980 and sunk without chance of retrieval. More recently Boeing were toying with GEV, ground effect vehicles, with the Pelican ULTRA, a not to distant relative of the KM, that never progressed beyond the drawing board. G

The Sherp

The Sherp ATV is made in St Petersburg, Russia and runs on its own design of patented tyres.

The $65,000 entry level model comes with...

Tent (soft top)
Automatic interior heating system
Analog dashboard devices and indicators
Halogen headlights
Hubcaps on wheels
Special exterior paint with durable polymeric coverage
58 liter fuel tank
Motor heat and noise reduction isolation technology
Driver and passenger seats equipped with seatbelts
Interior arc of safety
Automatic greasing system of SKF chains
Kingston valves to drain the water from the body
Two batteries
Hand brake

Order yours at Sherp.Ru (and let me have a go if you do, please)

Spotted on Le Container. G

Leningrad Cowboys x Russian Red Army Choir x Tom Jones

One of the more bizarre cultural mash-ups of all time.  G

Вездеход в чемодане

Russian Uni-Moto Ice Racing

News from Sochi, the craziest and most uplifting thing we've seen this year, is the Russian bid to introduce and new Winter Olympics sport for the 2016 Winter Olympic Games (to be held in Maidstone, Kent, UK). Uni-Moto Ice Drag Racing. It's no more ridiculous than some of the current official 'sports', so we think it has a strong chance of success. Especially with the rampant bribing the Russian authorities are willing to indulge in.

We'd seen a few photos drifting around the net, but thanks to Grant Robinson for alerting us to the source - Russian photographer Dimitry Ruzov.

This, from the nation that was first to put a man in space (and got him back safely). See what delights a nation can come up with when they're not involved in some superpower cock-measuring contest? G

 

Russian Psycho.It's not what you ride, it's how you ride it (no.9)

Ever tried to navigate a shopping trolley with shot wheel bearings, slaloming up an isle they were shelf stacking. Pissed? Trying to manhandle a Cossack sidecar combo comes pretty close. Me and three mates decided it would be a cheap and entertaining way to get from London to Lisbon in Portugal, to visit a Lady friend. We sourced said bike going for a song in the local paper, then went around for a test-ride, each taking a turn at the helm while the owner followed in his car. We each committed minor hit-and-run with parked cars and street furniture; soiling pants in the process - the owner just nodding to carry on regardless.
For the trip we had this mad plan to rotate duties whilst in transit... position 1) riding fresh up-front. 2) smoking in the chair. 3) recuperating as pillion - then swap one place. If we didn't get too whacked it would only take a few days.
Checking that the paper work was kosher - the bike being in amazing condition for a 1940's antique with only 20,000 miles on the clock "Err it's from 1986" came the response. The Russians raided the BMW factory in 1940, nicking the plans for the then advanced R71. Apart from adding Massey Ferguson indicator lights, they hadn't bothered updating it. What the hell, we handed over the dosh. The owner offered to give us some riding lessons if we come back after the rush-hour, which was nice. As we were coming back, I decided to pick up the money back off the table. But we bottled it and never came back.
Chicken Shit BP
Thanks for Mick Jansen of the Dutch Brothers Racing team for sending in the photo.
Err I dont know much about toe-in set-up for sidecars, but I'd say that chair wheel is about to fold in half?