The Summit of the Association of European Vehicle Logistics was organised in Riga

14 September 2023 was a very important day for us and another milestone in the history of Kurbads. It was a special day as this year, for the first time, we were invited to organise the ECG (Association of European Vehicle Logistics) Eastern Europe Regional Summit, one of the most influential industry events across Europe.

The ECG summits are very important events for the vehicle logistics industry, bringing together industry leaders from all over Europe to share their experiences. The aim of these summits is to bring together industry professionals to exchange views and learn about the latest developments in the vehicle logistics sector in the European Union (EU).

Until now, ECG meetings have been organised in one of the large and influential EU Member States. But this year was a unique opportunity here in Latvia to learn from the association’s representatives and the chairman of the Board about the current market trends in the industry, to get acquainted with the ECG’s future strategic development plans and to get an insight into the overall picture of the European vehicle logistics industry.

It was a great honour and an even greater responsibility for us to organise such an important event. We are very honoured that the baton of organising the summit has been passed to us this year, so that we can fly our flag and mark Latvia as an important logistics hub on the vast European highway map.

Many thanks to everyone who helped organise the meeting. Thank you to the participants and all visitors for your kind words. It was you who helped to make it such a special and important event in our company’s history.

See you on the road and at other summits!

Kurbads “Colonel Oskars Kalpaks” car carrier arrived at the Colonel Oskars Kalpaks High School

Our #111 “Colonel Oskars Kalpaks” car carrier arrived today in Kandava at the Colonel Oskars Kalpaks High School to congratulate the students with the beginning of the new school year.

We had the honor to participate in the solemn ceremony and share the joy!

 

How the Ford Mustang became a real muscle car

A seven-litre engine in a small convertible made an already successful Ford product even more desirable.

A cursory glance at the accompanying images would lead a non-expert to believe they are looking at the first or ‘original’ Ford Mustang, so prevalent in posters, cinema and on souvenir mugs. In fact however, we are dealing with the first serious facelift in the history of Ford’s legendary muscle car. When comparing the 1965 and 1967 Mustangs, the main thing that catches the eye are the different fog lights, which became a must-have feature on the GT version. But even the most keen observer might miss the fact that the 1967 model is larger than its predecessor, and not just for reasons of comfort. It was this year’s Ford Mustang that became the first to feature the so-called big-block V8 engine with a displacement unrivalled to this day – 7 litres. Large-displacement engines were of course also found in later Mustang models, but in 1967 it was a giant leap from the small-block 4.7-litre engines introduced in the first generation. So it was only in 1967 that the Ford Mustang really became a true muscle car.

Chasing the origins of the engine

The largest standard Mustang engine was a 6.4-litre, or 390 cubic-inch, V8 with 320 horsepower, but the top-of-the-range unit is easily recognisable by the Cobra lettering on the air filter housing. The seven-litre engine no doubt found its way into the engine bays of Carroll Shelby’s masterpieces, both street and race cars, including the legendary Ford GT40 that took the top three places in the 1966 24 Hours of Le Mans. The engine displacement was not chosen by coincidence. 7 litres, or 427 cubic inches, was the maximum volume allowed by the technical regulations for several road races, including Nascar. Since the epic powertrain was reserved for the Ford Mustang Shelby GT500, whose bonnet was adorned with various air vents for improved cooling of the engine compartment, it is likely that the sleek convertible met its current engine at some later point. Combining and swapping engines is not uncommon among Mustang enthusiasts, as evidenced by the touching attempt to return the V8’s cast-iron block to its original blue colour. Another nuance is that almost all Shelby GT500s at the time were released with a fastback body. The Ford Mustang model register says that only one GT500 convertible was produced in 1967, and it’s unlikely to be this one. The letter S in the VIN number clearly indicates that the convertible had a 6.4-litre engine in its original form.

Four gears and no automatics

Looking into the interior of the convertible, we see the first steering wheel in Mustang history with a cushioned ‘safety’ centre section. Three-point seat belts only became mandatory in 1968, before then they were an option on the model. Along with the facelift, the Mustang’s interior started to feature the brushed aluminium dashboard trim shown here and a dashboard gauge cluster with tachometer and additional gauges previously included in the so-called Rally Package. The De Luxe interior, seen here, is a relatively rare option, with light leather upholstery that harmonises perfectly with the off-white vinyl roof and the delightful Dark Moss body colour. Despite the huge engine capacity and the popularity of automatics in America, the driver of this convertible had to handle more than 300 horsepower using the classic three pedals and a four-speed manual gearbox. If this number of gears seems modest for such a task, it is worth knowing that the Mustang’s standard gearbox at the time had only three speeds. The Mustang GTA, or GT/A, where the letter A stood for automatic or rather the automated Select Shift Cruise-o-Matic transmission, was produced for only one year in this generation, 1967, and there were no automatics at all for the seven-litre engines.

Year of Bullitt

Interestingly, Ford Mustang godfather Lee Iacocca initially disliked the facelifted model, although he himself oversaw the completion of its design from the side air vents to the square mirrors (the original Mustang Mk I had round mirrors). The wider and deeper radiator grille made the car look visually stronger, while the increased wheel track improved stance and handling. New, curved taillights gave the sports car a more premium look. The car could be ordered in 28 different colours, the standard convertible was priced at $2898, and despite external and internal competition from the Chevrolet Camaro, Mercury Cougar, Pontiac Firebird and Plymouth Barracuda, Ford’s three plants produced 472,121 Mustangs during that year, of which 44,808 were convertibles. Within a year, the elegant, if totally non-functional, grille would disappear from the side of the Mustang, and minimal cosmetic changes would, as usual, be made to Ford’s best-seller annually. In the same year, this ‘in-between generation’ Mustang would take cinema screens by storm, with Steve McQueen’s Frank Bullitt chasing the bad guys through the streets of San Francisco in a moss green Ford Mustang GT Fastback. The Mustang would grow in size and power through the late 1960s, with the legendary Mach 1 and Boss 302 modifications, before the fourth and final iteration of the first-generation Ford Mustang would arrive in 1970.

Ferrari Tour Latvia 2023

Ferrari Tour Latvia 2023, the first ever tour of exclusive Ferrari cars organised by the members of the Scuderia Ferrari Club Riga – Latvia, was a highlight among car enthusiasts last month. The aim was to promote local tourism opportunities at the international level, as well as to offer people in different Latvian cities the opportunity to see and learn more about this legendary brand of cars.

Kurbads, a vehicle transportation and logistics company, also had the exclusive opportunity to be part of this special event by sponsoring the tour and transporting 12 luxury Ferrari cars from Luxembourg to Italy, from Italy to Latvia and back.

Toms Hartmanis, Kurbads representative, points out that transporting such elite cars is a task that carries much responsibility and must be carried out with the utmost care: ‘Everyone knows that Ferrari cars are exclusive. Carrying such an important load as 12 cars of this brand required attention to every detail to ensure that it arrived at its destination without a hitch. I am delighted that the Kurbads team has once again performed excellently to ensure that the Ferrari Tour Latvia participants were successfully reunited with their cars in Latvia and got them home on time.’

Ferrari Tour Latvia 2023 started in Riga and the participants drove their powerful cars a total of 1000 kilometres to experience and get to know Latvia’s wonderful nature, stopping in the most beautiful cities of Latvia: Sigulda, Cēsis, Rēzekne, Bauska, Liepāja, Kuldīga, Ventspils, Jurmala and finishing the tour in Riga. In each of these cities, locals had the opportunity to take photos with the world-famous Ferrari cars, learn about the history of the brand and have a fun time among car enthusiasts.

Ferrari Tour Latvia was organised by Scuderia Ferrari Club Riga in partnership with Scuderia Ferrari Club Luxembourg and we are proud to have been among the participants of this elite event.

The 16th annual Kurbads boat trip was held in the heat and a friendly atmosphere

Respecting and honouring the best traditions of Kurbads – this year the 16th boat trip and sports games were held together. As with every year, it is organised for the Company’s employees to replenish their energy reserves and absorb the healing power of Mother Nature. Coincidentally, for the second year in a row, we chose to enjoy the bubbling currents and gentle bends of the River Pededze. After the active and back-muscle strengthening activity, we enjoyed a peaceful end to the first day, as well as the next morning, in a small green oasis in Litene, hosted by the caring owners of Laivot.lv.

Despite the fact that the weather conditions for the boat trip initially promised to be unsuitable and even rainy, this did not prevent the brave men and women of Kurbads (employees) from turning up in large numbers for the event. This time, the employees of Kurbads, Kurbads Detailing, Kurbads Kravas Serviss, HS Kurbads and Lante Manor, with their families, met for a boat trip and sports games.

We started our exciting holiday in the early hours of the morning, meeting at the Kurbads base to take a bus to the starting point of the route – the oak-lined banks of the River Pededze. Although we had initially planned to enjoy the nearby River Vaidava in the Vidzeme highlands – due to the water level, we opted for tried and tested values and went to tackle the familiar currents of the River Pededze.

Our Company values not only receiving, but also giving. If we draw strength from Mother Nature, we must also give back to her. This is why, combining our already fairly proficient paddling skills and respect for the environment, we cleared the river of litter. This duty to nature turned out to be quite exciting and not so easy, as we coincidentally also found some used car tyres in the river. It was as if someone had diverted our planned route for the day to do just that.

To rest and stretch a bit after the exciting “river cleaning operation”, as well as to have a delicious meal, we moored our water vehicles at our accommodation in the boat base Laivot.lv.

Anyone who has been on a boat trip in previous years knows that traditionally, soup is cooked over a campfire, which, thanks to the fire, the cast-iron pot and the magic of the caring hosts, tastes like nowhere else. This year, thanks to the interaction of many hard-working hands, the caring ladies of our great group brought a hearty bean soup and a vegetarian vegetable-mushroom soup to the table, which helped our men and women to recover after boating. It is important to note that most of the soup ingredients were grown in local, lovingly tended Latvian soil. They were prepared by the owners of Lante Manor. Many thanks to them!

The evening programme surprised us, as our great colleagues Anita and Denijs had made sure that this boat trip and its conclusion would be more memorable than ever:

six teams, six sports disciplines: “How much do you know about Kurbads” quiz, acrobatic stunts, extreme water slide, mini golf under the guidance of professional Toms Hartmanis, SUP board speed races, and archery under the guidance of expert Andis Pikāns. Anyone who has been to sports games with their parents as a child will agree that such recreation creates some of the happiest childhood memories. But for parents, there is nothing more satisfying than the laughter of children. That is why this year’s entertainment was not only for adults – the youngest boaters also found endless fun on the inflatables, drawing, badminton and many other activities.

We do not know if Imants Ziedonis was also inspired by Litene when he wrote his Colourful Tales, but we inadvertently divided ourselves into White, Blue, Green, Orange, Red and Yellow teams. The fastest and most erudite team this year was the strong men of White, with Yellow coming a close second, but Blue taking an honourable third place.

Just before going to bed, Elizabete and Nauris created a musical atmosphere for us around the campfire, which even turned into a little shamanic ritual during the evening. Accompanied by the steady rumble of raindrops and the wonderful symphony of acoustic guitar strings and drums, a wonderful and slightly magical atmosphere was conjured up around the campfire, so that colleagues could unite not only physically, but also spiritually, by performing the most popular Latvian songs together.

The voices of our colleagues and their singing along, as well as the smooth swaying to the music, once again showed us that the spirit of togetherness is the key to our success. Perhaps this was one of the supernatural healing practices we read about in the stories, sent to us in gratitude by Mother Nature? Perhaps. But it certainly wouldn’t have been possible without the heartfelt kindness of our colleagues, the soulful sound of music and the symphony created by the play of campfire light that shone in our faces. This wonderful cocktail of feelings allowed us to go to bed filled with happiness.

Another earthy morning dawned, and we rose with the first strong rays of the sun. As usual, we enjoyed a delicious breakfast together, and shortly before the boat trip continued, we got some good exercise, waking up our bodies and spirits with the help of our yoga instructor Ieva. Henrijs surprised all the boaters with a spontaneous decision that he’d made the night before around the campfire – everyone should learn the “Pankūku dancis” – latvian traditional folk dance. Who knows, maybe in the future there will be a folk dance group Kurbads?

A few more hours on the River Pededze and the sixteenth Kurbads boat trip was over. We would like to express our gratitude to the host of Aizupieši, Anna, for such a naturally beautiful, well-kept campsite and for such a warm welcome and involvement. Laivot.lv is one of the best campsites we have stayed at in our entire experience of sixteen years.

We have once again seen that we can both be proud of our success in our field, as well as the great employees who not only work better than the vehicles we drive on a daily basis, but also work exceptionally well together in our leisure activities.

Thank you all for a great time and see you next year for the seventeenth Kurbads boat trip!  May the sun warm you and the wind of togetherness blow in the sails of your life!

INTRODUCING THE FORD EXPLORER – A NEW ERA OF SUVS FOR EUROPE

Ford is set to usher in a new era with the launch of its highly anticipated Ford Explorer SUV, tailor-made for the European market. It is adventure-ready with a new and unique design, new levels of comfort and advanced driving technology.
Production of this state-of-the-art model will start at the revamped Cologne plant as of August/September 2023. The car will be available for order in Latvia from November 2023.

In direct competition with mid-size SUVs such as the Škoda Enyaq and Jeep Avenger, as well as the Hyundai Ioniq 5, the Ford Explorer promises to be a game-changer in its class.
So what does the Ford Explorer promise to be!?
The Explorer boasts a length of 4.46 metres, a width of 1.87 metres and a height of 1.6 metres. Its design strikes the perfect balance between elegance and functionality. Equipped with all-wheel drive, the Ford Explorer delivers mighty 340 horsepower. For those who prefer a rear-wheel drive configuration, there is also a 286 horsepower option available to suit different driving preferences.
The Ford Explorer’s lithium-ion battery provides excellent single-charge mileage of up to 500 kilometres in the summer, while still offering an impressive range of 350 to 400 kilometres per charge in the winter. In addition, its fast charging capability delivers a charge rate from 10% to 85% in just around 25 minutes, reducing downtime during long journeys.
With acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in just 6 seconds, the Ford Explorer delivers an exhilarating driving experience without compromising on efficiency.
This Ford Explorer is based on a new electric vehicle platform and therefore has a much larger luggage compartment. The boot has a capacity of 470 litres and there is space for even a 15″ laptop in the compartment between driver and passenger.
Ford aims to make the Explorer an attractive option with a planned starting price of €45,000, positioning it as a tempting choice compared to its rivals.

How does the Ford Explorer compare to the competition?
Jeep Avenger (electric): starting at €40,000, the Avenger offers a charging range of up to 400 km and an 80% charge in 40 minutes.
Hyundai Ioniq 5: Ioniq 5: starting at €53,000, the Ioniq 5 boasts a remarkable range of up to 500 km per charge, with charging to 80% in 40 minutes.
Škoda Enyaq IV (electric): starting at €50,000, the Enyaq offers a range of up to 400 km, with 80% charge in 40 minutes.
In conclusion, the Ford Explorer is a worthy contender in the mid-size SUV electric market, combining a competitive price, impressive range, fast charging times and a stylish design that particularly meets the expectations of Europeans. In strategic partnership with VW plants and with innovative features, the Ford Explorer is set to redefine the SUV experience and usher in a new era in the automotive world.

Read more about the new Ford Explorer at www.ford.lv.
*Photos from www.ford.lv

 

 

Jimmie Angel Historical Project sends a letter from America!

Representatives from the Jimmie Angel Historical Project sends a letter from America: “Dear Alfreds Paulausks. Valdis Ābols recently sent me photographs of your paintings of Aleksandrs Laime, Angel Falls, and Jimmie Angel’s airplane on the sides of a Kurbads truck. Your painting is a  beautiful homage to all, but especially to Laime. He was an important person in the history of exploration in the Angel Falls region. It is good that by seeing his image more people may learn about him. Kind regards, Karen Angel.”

Aleksandrs Laime became famous as the first known person to reach the world’s highest waterfall – Angel Falls. In 1949, he was the guide for Ruth Robertson’s expedition to measure the waterfall and confirm it as the tallest waterfall in the world. In 1955 he climbed the Canaima Plateau for the first time, reaching the Jimmie Angel’s “El Río Caroní”, which had been there since the accident that happened in 1937.

On October 9, 1937, Jimmie was returning to the falls with the intention of landing. This 1937 expedition included Jimmie and Marie Angel and their companions: Gustavo Heny; Heny’s jungle companion Miguel Angel Delgado, who was an expert at climbing

rope and handling a machete; and Captain Felix Cardona Puig. He attempted a landing, but despite a successful touchdown, his aircraft nose-dived when it hit soft ground at the end of its landing run. The wheels sank in the mud, making take-off impossible.

Jimmie Angel’s “El Río Caroní” plane is also illustrated on the car carrier design of Aleksandrs Laime, because both of these heroes and their stories are connected.

Our artist Alfreds comments: “I first learned about Aleksandrs Laime, a Latvian who lived in the jungles of Venezuela for fifty years next to the highest waterfall in the world, after watching the film “I am a Latvian” released in 1990 by Ansis Epners. For me, a young guy who at that time had not even crossed the Polish border, Laime’s story was a great impact for further travel adventures. Laime was the first to find the way to Angel Falls by foot, and he also gave the name of the river that forms it – Rio Gauja. It goes without saying that the story of Aleksandrs Laime is impossible without the story of Angel Falls.

But there is another very important person who is very closely connected with this place – it is the aviator Jimmie Angel, after whom the waterfall is named. Jimmie Angel was the first westerner to spot the falls by flying over in an airplane. He crashed trying to land it on top of a waterfall mountain and became famous for his rescue story of eleven days searching for a way down a vertical mountain. Laime, on the other hand, was the first to climb to the top of the waterfall and find the wreckage of Jimmy’s plane 18 years after the accident. In real life, these two gentlemen do not seem to have met, but Laime must have known about Jimmie’s adventures and they inspired him to new discoveries.

So we come to the composition of my drawing – Aleksandrs Laime in the center, Angel Falls in the background and Jimmie Angel’s plane above it. I’m kind of sloppy with the chronology, because when Laime arrived in Venezuela, Jimmie’s plane had been rusting on the top of the mountain for quite some time and he was dreaming of the National Museum of Caracas. But I wanted to give the picture a more positive mood, so I chose to depict the moment when Jimmy is still flying over the waterfall in his plane.

Two outstanding personalities, two most interesting destinies intertwined around a natural pearl – the highest waterfall in the world.”

In 1970  Venezuelan Air Force removed Jimmie Angel’s airplane El Rio Caroni from Auyantepui in pieces and reassembled it at the Venezuelan Air Force Museum in Maracay, Venezuela.

 

Crazy Horse reborn in a new form and returns to the fleet with the number #115.

Crazy Horse is back! Reborn in a new form and returns to the fleet with the number #115. “Crazy Horse” is entrusted to the driver Valdis Repše. Valdis has driven the 71st truck carrier, whose cabin was also decorated with a portrait of Crazy Horse, which we first designed in 2012. The connection between the driver and his vehicle is important and Valdis has also found a connection with the famous Indian warrior. “Valdis is a charge of energy in Kurbads. Valdis is always open to new adventures and challenges. His fearless pursuit of his goals is the reason why we entrust the car carrier to him, especially decorated with the image of the Indian tribal leader Crazy Horse!” comments head of logistics Toms Hartmanis.

The previous car carrier was equipped with a “Variotrans” type trailer, while the new Mercedes-Benz Actros is equipped with an “Intago” type trailer, which allows loading wider and heavier cars. We choose to equip the new trucks with additional safety platform, creating safe loading conditions for the drivers. Thanks to excellent ergonomics, many practical features included in the standard equipment, technologies and driver-oriented design – the high cab of the Actros is created for the comfort of drivers.

The Indian warrior – Crazy Horse was one of the most prominent fighters for the independence of Native Americans. Crazy Horse became famous for his selfless fight against white settlers and his desire to protect the traditional residence of his Lakota tribe.

Crazy Horse was a Lakota war leader of the Oglala band in the 19th century. He took up arms against the United States federal government to fight against encroachment by white American settlers on Native American territory and to preserve the traditional way of life of the Lakota people. His participation in several famous battles of the Black Hills War on the northern Great Plains, among them the Fetterman Fight in 1866, in which he acted as a decoy, and the Battle of the Little Bighorn in 1876, in which he led a war party to victory, earned him great respect from both his enemies and his own people. On June 17, 1876, along with more than 1,200 warriors, Crazy Horse helped defeat General George Crook at the Battle of the Rosebud. Eight days later he helped defeat the 7th Cavalry at the Battle of the Little Bighorn.

“Contemporaries will later tell about Crazy Horse that he was a kind-hearted, shy and modest man who spent a lot of time in solitude. The warrior is said to have been generous to the poor, the elderly and children.”

“I can’t sit on my laurels for long, I carefully observe the trends and technologies of car designs all over the world, that’s why I offer more and more complicated solutions to my partners. The Kurbads company is also growing and developing, and together we are slowly developing an understanding of what the new car carriers should look like. I am truly grateful to the company for the trust and the opportunity to realize my ideas and abilities. As a result, with the graphic design of the car carriers, I think we can compete with the world’s best models and Kurbads can present itself at international car shows with its head held high. The last two car carriers – Aleksandrs Laime and Crazy Horse, differ in that the surface of the bodywork is already 100% covered with the design and also in the fact that yellow, which is the second corporate color of Kurbads, is used more and more boldly in the images of the characters. Yellow is the opposite color of blue, so using this color makes the graphics more lively and expressive. In short, we fight the Latvian shyness and become more and more courageous!” comments artist Alfreds Paulausks.

The head of the Oglala tribe, shrouded in legends, we met seven years ago in John Gneisenau Neihardt’s book “Black Elk Speaks” and have since become inseparable friends. How would you like to hear the stories of the adventures of Crazy Horse in the moonlight by the firepit? It would be such an evening, wouldn’t it?

 

 

Kurbads at Tallinn Truck show 2023

Although trucks are usually associated with industrial and commercial activity, they can also be technically and visually impressive. Tallinn Trucks show 2023 featured heavy trucks from all over Europe, where professionals, truck enthusiasts and car art lovers gathered.

Among the exhibits, Kurbad’s newest car carrier – Aleksandrs Laime, also took part. The legendary Latvian explorer and adventurer. While searching for gold and diamonds, Laime became the first person in the world to reach and discover the Angel Falls in Canaima, Venezuela. He came there for the first time in 1942 and settled there for life. Among the local Indians, there were legends about Laime’s incredible wealth, and he was known as the “King of Diamonds”…

“I’ve been a big fan of trucks since childhood! Of course, the show did not leave me indifferent. This year I was given the opportunity to go with the newest car carrier Aleksandrs Laime and take a closer look in the culture of heavy vehicles!” says Kurbads driver Jakovs Kauškaļs.

All Kurbads car carriers, whose cabins are designed with important heroes, fighters, legends and inspiring personalities, are the company’s greatest pride – both in everyday life, transporting customers cars in the whole wide world, and at special events, where we can share interesting stories and enjoy art. This year we have received the recognition award “Best of Tallinn Truck Show 2023” and we are grateful for the participation and positive emotions! Preparing for the show was a responsible process, where we would like to express our great gratitude to our artist Alfreds Paulausks.

Thanks to everyone who showed interest, came to talk and also bought our amazing merch. We appreciate it and it certainly gives big inspiration for the next creative ideas.

#tallintruckshow2023 #truckshow #truckart #cars #art #theartofvehiclelogistics #trucks #kurbads #Tallinn Truck Show

Kurbads detailinga centrā viesis no RUPES S.p.A.

Labākie mācās no labākajiem!
Jūnija izskaņā pie mums Kurbads detailinga centrā ciemos bija RUPES S.p.A. oficiālais pārstāvis Pawel Kaluski.
Protams, ciemošanās neizpalika bez paraugdemostrējumiem, padomiem un dažādu “knifiņu” atklāšanas.
Aktīva pulieru, ripu un pastu testēšana. Paldies Pawelam un Jurim Grīnfeldam no SIA RAGS

RUPES ir ģimenei piederošs un pārvaldīts itāļu uzņēmums, kas dibināts 1947. gadā Milānā. RUPES ir dažādu profesionālo elektrisko, pneimatisko instrumentu, piederumu un dažādu sistēmu ražotājs. Arī Kurbads detailinga centrā mēs izmantojam dažādos RUPES pulētājus, gan pulēšanas maisījumus – pastas.

#rupes #kurbads #detailing #carpolish #carpolishing #detailingworld