Latest news with #ZipZap
Straits Times
30-07-2025
- Automotive
- Straits Times
From farm to fame, Nick Tandy recognised for 24 Hours grand slam
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Nick Tandy is the only driver to have won every 24-hour endurance race. LONDON – Nick Tandy's thirst for speed began when he was barely a teenager, driving a combine harvester around an open field on his father's farm. The only driver to have won every 24-hour endurance race – a grand slam of Le Mans, Nuerburgring, Spa and Daytona – the Briton was honoured on Tuesday with the Royal Automobile Club's Segrave Trophy for outstanding exploits on land, sea or air. Past winners include Formula One champions Lewis Hamilton, Jackie Stewart, Damon Hill and Nigel Mansell. Speaking to Reuters at the London club, and slightly stunned to be there, the Porsche factory driver accepted his path was perhaps not the typical one. Driving the combine had certainly made him want to go faster, though. "You just wanted to get the job done so you could go out and play with your friends," he said. Tandy still helps out when he can, going from 250kph around a racetrack to the wheel of a tractor at walking pace with a harrow on the back. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Business S'pore's Q2 total employment rises, but infocomm and professional services sectors see more job cuts Asia Japan issues tsunami warning after 8.8-magnitude earthquake strikes off Russia Singapore Migrant workers who gave kickbacks to renew work passes were conservancy workers at AMK Town Council Singapore 2026 school year to begin from Jan 2 for MOE kindergarten, primary, secondary students Singapore Singapore prepared to recognise State of Palestine in principle; goal is to reach peace, 2-state solution Business MAS keeps Singapore dollar policy unchanged amid US tariff risks to economy Business S'pore car-sharing firm GetGo launches ZipZap no-deposit car leasing, starting at six months Singapore Escape, discover, connect: Where new memories are made "Everyone has their own back story and I'm country folk," he said. "I enjoy going back to the countryside. "I struggle going to places like Monaco but everyone's different I guess." Tandy, now 40, took overall victory at Le Mans' Sarthe circuit a decade ago, a 2015 victory shared with Earl Bamber of New Zealand and German F1 driver Nico Hulkenberg. At the time it was a box ticked, a dream come true. "But then of course you wake up the very next morning and think 'Right. What's next?'," he said. The answer came in 2018 when he won the Nuerburgring 24 Hours, again with Porsche. In 2020 he conquered the Spa 24 Hours with Bamber and Belgian Laurens Vanthoor. That left Daytona and Tandy had won the U.S. race previously in the GT class. "Somebody said to me 'you do realise nobody has ever won them all, overall, and you've won three and you've got a class win at Daytona'. And I thought 'Oof! Now there's a challenge'," he recalled. The Briton succeeded last January with Brazilian Felipe Nasr and Vanthoor. Tandy also won the 2015 Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta, Georgia, and 12 Hours of Sebring in Florida last March – becoming the first driver to win endurance racing's 'Big Six'. In a world where the car is more often the star, Tandy said he had been taken aback by the amount of interest suddenly penetrating his "little bubble". "I drive my little car in my little races around and around and kind of finish where we started up," he said. "I haven't been on water and driven a boat faster than anybody's ever done. I haven't won a world championship in a plane. I haven't circumnavigated the globe. "It makes you realise that what you've done actually is probably bigger than I ever thought." Comparisons have been made to double Formula One champion and Indianapolis 500 winner Jim Clark, an all-time great who came from a Scottish farming family and died in 1968. Tandy said being mentioned in the same breath as Clark was unbelievable but the background similarity was not such a surprise. "There's so many more other good drivers that come from farming," he said. "There's something about having the land available and growing up and driving machines, working on machines as well, and understanding mechanics. "I'm a professional racing driver... but when I come home, I can switch off and I go back to family life and working in my workshop, helping my dad on the farm. Just being a normal person." REUTERS
Straits Times
30-07-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
American classical pianist Hunter Noack takes his music to the mountains
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Pianist Hunter Noack's In A Landscape project takes him to places in the outdoors not known for hosting concerts. UNITED STATES – For the last decade, classical pianist Hunter Noack has been embarking on an unusual journey. He hauls a 450kg 1912 Steinway concert grand piano to places in the outdoors not known for hosting concerts. Picture a man seated at a piano beside a lake. It could also be on a mountaintop, in a forest or a meadow. This summer, the 36-year-old is in the midst of a 10th-anniversary tour of his In A Landscape project, which has taken him to Jack London State Historic Park in Glen Ellen, California; Black Butte Ranch in Sisters, Oregon; and Warm Springs Preserve in Ketchum, Idaho. 'I get excited at the idea of bringing a piano where no piano has gone before,' Noack said. Inspired by preservationist John Muir, Noack started the project as a way of getting closer to nature, and taking classical music to rural areas where it is not typically accessible. The idea, he said, is to remove the barriers that typically limit classical music to concert venues such as Carnegie Hall in New York. 'What John Muir was trying to articulate is that we don't just need the wild to recreate in,' Noack said in an interview. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Business S'pore's Q2 total employment rises, but infocomm and professional services sectors see more job cuts Asia Japan issues tsunami warning after 8.8-magnitude earthquake strikes off Russia Business MAS keeps Singapore dollar policy unchanged amid US tariff risks to economy Singapore Singapore prepared to recognise State of Palestine in principle; goal is to reach peace, 2-state solution Singapore 2026 school year to begin from Jan 2 for MOE kindergarten, primary, secondary school students Business Cathay Cineplexes ropes in restructuring specialist as more payment demands pile up Business S'pore car-sharing firm GetGo launches ZipZap no-deposit car leasing, starting at six months Opinion Nobel Prize? Maybe not, but give Asean credit for Cambodia-Thailand ceasefire 'We need the wild to be human, and to be more compassionate and empathetic. And that's the medicine that I needed – to be outside.' The roots of the project can be traced back to 2015. Noack, a native of Sunriver, Oregon, had just moved to Portland, a couple of years after graduating from the Guildhall School of Music in London. He was working odd jobs and struggling with student debt. He considered joining the National Guard, but instead applied for a small grant from a regional arts and culture council in Portland to try an experiment. Classical pianist Hunter Noack performing in Princeton, Oregon, on June 21. PHOTO: ALEX HECHT/NYTIMES Noack had long been fascinated by immersive theatre. As a student at the University of Southern California, he had been enamoured with classmates who independently produced their own shows, which included plays by Russian playwright Anton Chekhov staged in abandoned warehouses, and a piece by American playwright Sam Shepard performed in a rundown hotel in downtown Los Angeles. 'I wanted more of this in my life,' Noack said. He found the shows 'scrappy, fun and daring'. After graduating from college, Noack, along with a friend from boarding school, created an immersive play in San Francisco. In London, Noack eagerly took in shows by experimental theatre company Punchdrunk. 'These theatre and opera companies were really pushing the boundaries, and that's what I wanted to do with my art: classical piano,' he said . A travelling group of six helps Noack take his piano to the remote locations. The team has developed a system for moving the 2.7m instrument. The piano sits on a custom-designed 4.8m flatbed trailer and can go anywhere that a four-wheel-drive vehicle can. Once they arrive at a destination, the trailer turns into the stage. The first year, Noack rented a piano from a local dealer. But when he said he wanted to take the rented piano to Mount Bachelor in Bend, Oregon, and the Alvord Desert, in the south-eastern part of the state, the dealer did not want to take on the insurance liability. Afterwards, in 2017, a philanthropist purchased and donated the piano that Noack uses today. Noack did not intend for the In A Landscape project to be a full-time job, but the initial audience response was so large that he kept going. The original run of the tour had nine dates, but it has since expanded to more than 50 dates a year, over a wider area. The concerts are held rain or shine, hot or cold. The temperature during concerts has ranged from sub-freezing to more than 35 deg C . The 2.7m piano sits on a custom-designed 4.8m flatbed trailer and can go anywhere that a four-wheel-drive vehicle can. Once the team arrives at a destination, the trailer turns into the stage. PHOTO: ALEX HECHT/NYTIMES The notable locales where Noack has played include the entrance to Yellowstone, Joshua Tree National Park in California, Crater Lake in southern Oregon and Banff National Park in Canada. Most of the venues are in national parks in the Pacific Northwest. However, Noack said the most meaningful concerts have not necessarily been at the most recognisable locations, but rather, at smaller, more intimate spots such as ranches and farms. 'It's really all about the people who are there and the relationship they have with that space and what the landscape is doing for us in that for those 90 minutes,' he added. His shows have even appeared to attract wildlife. He recalled that at a two-night run near the Oregon coast, the piano was located near a cliff. A whale swam up to shore for both performances and lingered for their entirety. 'I like to think that the whale was enjoying this show,' Noack said. Among other wildlife that made appearances were free-range horses, birds and deer. Noack's ambition to take a piano to unfamiliar territory is expansive. He wants to perform at, among other striking sites, remote villages in Canada; at the Preikestolen, a steep cliff in Norway; during a safari in Africa; atop Vinicunca, the rainbow mountain in the Andes of Peru; and by the salt flats of Bolivia. 'My hope is that I can use this project, my love of the music and my curiosity about how public lands and natural resources are managed, to explore the world and learn,' he said. NYTIMES
Straits Times
30-07-2025
- Automotive
- Straits Times
Car-sharing firm GetGo launches ZipZap in S'pore - no-deposit car leasing, starting at six months
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox The minimum hire period offered by the new platform, ZipZap, is shorter than other long-term rental services. SINGAPORE - The team behind car-sharing company GetGo has introduced a long-term car rental service with no deposit required and a minimum period of six months – shorter than other long-term rental services. Launched on July 29 under the name ZipZap, the service aims to bridge the gap between short-term and long-term car rentals. 'We saw a clear gap between short-term rentals and long-term ownership, and many drivers wanted something in between: consistent access to a personal car, without the stress of large upfront payments or being tied down for years,' said GetGo and ZipZap chief executive Toh Ting Feng. In contrast to ZipZap, GetGo's eponymous car-sharing platform offers short-term rentals from a minimum of an hour to a maximum of five days. With 400,000 subscribers, it is currently Singapore's largest car-sharing provider. Existing long-term car rental services have a 12-month minimum hire period and require a deposit, which is typically a month or two of the rental cost. A small, mainstream sport utility vehicle (SUV) generally costs about $2,000 a month. ZipZap users pay a monthly fee that covers all major costs – such as road tax, insurance and maintenance – except for fuel. This starts at around $2,000, said Mr Toh. When the leased car is sent for servicing or repairs, ZipZap users will be able to use a 'courtesy car' in the meanwhile. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. World Japan issues tsunami warning after 8.7-magnitude earthquake strikes off Russia Business MAS keeps Singapore dollar policy unchanged amid US tariff risks to economy Business Cathay Cineplexes ropes in restructuring specialist as more payment demands pile up Opinion Nobel Prize? Maybe not, but give Asean credit for Cambodia-Thailand ceasefire Asia Fragile Cambodia-Thailand truce faces challenges on day one Singapore Grace Fu apologises for Tanjong Katong sinkhole, says road may stay closed for a few more days Business No clarity yet on baseline or pharmaceutical tariffs with US: DPM Gan Singapore Facts and myths intersect at the National Museum's new glass rotunda installation A range of new and used cars is available. The fleet has started with smaller hatchbacks and SUVs – such as the BMW X2, Suzuki Swift, Honda HR-V and Hyundai Kona – with more models to be added based on demand. ZipZap is also beta-testing an optional feature, 'Subscribe and Share', that will allow users to rent out their leased vehicles on the GetGo platform. Rental money earned will be deducted from the ZipZap subscription fees and ZipZap will not charge platform fees on it. 'If you lease out your car to 20 people and they pay a $20 fee, you will get $400,' noted Mr Toh. Peer-to-peer car-sharing platform Drive lah offers a similar Flex+ service, by which users can rent cars from each other for a minimum period of two months and with no deposit. Leased cars can also be rented to other users on Drive lah's platform, with a required minimum of four days a month. As a peer-to-peer service, Drive lah lists vehicles that are owned by individuals, rather than a company. In its statement, ZipZip highlighted that unlike peer-to-peer sharing services, it 'owns and retains full operational oversight of every car'.
Business Times
28-07-2025
- Automotive
- Business Times
Singapore car sharing firm GetGo offers no-deposit car leasing, starting at six months
[SINGAPORE] The team behind car-sharing company GetGo has introduced a long-term car rental service with no deposit required and a minimum period of six months – shorter than other long-term rental services. Launched on Tuesday (Jul 29) under the name ZipZap, the service aims to bridge the gap between short-term and long-term car rentals. 'We saw a clear gap between short-term rentals and long-term ownership, and many drivers wanted something in between: consistent access to a personal car, without the stress of large upfront payments or being tied down for years,' said GetGo and ZipZap chief executive Toh Ting Feng. In contrast to ZipZap, GetGo's eponymous car-sharing platform offers short-term rentals from a minimum of an hour to a maximum of five days. With 245,000 subscribers, it is currently Singapore's largest car-sharing provider. Existing long-term car rental services have a 12-month minimum hire period and require a deposit, which is typically a month or two of the rental cost. A small, mainstream sport utility vehicle (SUV) generally costs about S$2,000 a month. ZipZap users pay a monthly fee that covers all major costs – such as road tax, insurance and maintenance – except for fuel. This starts at around S$2,000, said Toh. BT in your inbox Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox. Sign Up Sign Up When the leased car is sent for servicing or repairs, ZipZap users will be able to use a 'courtesy car' in the meanwhile. A range of new and used cars is available. The fleet has started with smaller hatchbacks and SUVs – such as the BMW X2, Suzuki Swift, Honda HR-V and Hyundai Kona – with more models to be added based on demand. ZipZap is also beta-testing an optional feature, 'Subscribe and Share', that will allow users to rent out their leased vehicles on the GetGo platform. Rental money earned will be deducted from the ZipZap subscription fees and ZipZap will not charge platform fees on it. Toh Ting Feng, the CEO of GetGo and ZipZap. PHOTO: BT FILE 'If you lease out your car to 20 people and they pay a S$20 fee, you will get S$400,' noted Toh. Peer-to-peer car-sharing platform Drive lah offers a similar Flex+ service, by which users can rent cars from each other for a minimum period of two months and with no deposit. Leased cars can also be rented to other users on Drive lah's platform, with a required minimum of four days a month. As a peer-to-peer service, Drive lah lists vehicles that are owned by individuals, rather than a company. In its statement, ZipZip highlighted that unlike peer-to-peer sharing services, it 'owns and retains full operational oversight of every car'. 'Sharing only happens within our closed-loop, platform-managed system, where all cars are maintained, insured, and quality-controlled directly by us.'
IOL News
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- IOL News
Zip Zap Circus presents 'Chasing Dreams': a celebration of talent
The Zip Zap Circus have announced their newest offering 'Chasing Dreams', a spectacular show that celebrates the journey of performers at all stages. Image: Zip Zap circus Zip Zap Circus is back with a brand-new production that promises to captivate audiences and ignite their imaginations. Titled 'Chasing Dreams', this exhilarating show is set to be bigger, bolder, and more breathtaking than ever before. It is not merely a performance; it is a heartfelt celebration of the journey, legacy, and future of Zip Zap, encapsulating the spirit of pursuing dreams. Audiences are invited to witness a rare showcase featuring performers at every stage of their artistic journey. From the youngest Zappers, who are just beginning to chase their dreams, to the Dare2Dream students forging a future in circus, and the seasoned professionals from the Professional Troupe—this show promises to demonstrate the incredible capabilities of each performer. Under the guidance of the Zip Zap family, the show aims to inspire with jaw-dropping aerial feats, high-energy acrobatics, and explosive choreography, all set to a soundtrack that resonates with viewers of all ages. This multi-layered production encapsulates the essence of dreams—those that are still forming, those that are being realised, and those that continually push boundaries in pursuit of excellence. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ The narrative follows The Dreamer, who awakens in a world where she is uncertain if she is still asleep or has entered reality. Embarking on an incredible journey through a series of acts, she learns to chase her dreams and confront her fears. Ultimately, her determination will lead her to achieve her crowning moment—a daring double somersault to catch, symbolising the triumph over challenges. Mark your calendars for this unmissable event at the Zip Zap Dome on Jan Smuts Street in Cape Town, taking place on 12, 13, 19, and 20 July, with shows at 11:00 and 15:00. Tickets are affordably priced at R150, and children under three are free. Be sure to book your tickets through Quicket for a chance to experience the magic that Zip Zap Circus is renowned for.
