You know you've made it in life when you buy your first exotic car - not just any car mind you, but Nick Mason's vintage Ferrari 512S. If you can't swing that, then the 1/18th scale model is available for about $100. That's just what I did and I'm several hundred thousand richer for the decision. Note the cardboard and plexi garage enclosure and even though the photo doesn't show it clearly, this sweet ride has only one seat. The seating arrangement can create and solve domestic issues at the same time, the wife can't come along and there is no chance you will be picking anyone up.

All joking aside, it is far more impressive in the flesh and quite heavy. Extremely detailed with nothing left off, the steering wheel has the Ferrari prancing horse symbol and even the wind shield wipers look real. Finding this scale model came as a surprise so I just had to have it. You can see more about it at this link and of course it is featured in Nick's car books including, of course, the latest edition, Passion For Speed.

This limited edition from the Hot Wheels "Elite" collection is available in no more than 5,000 individually numbered pieces, and can be bought direct from specialist retailers worldwide (details on their site), or alternatively you can pick it up from the various eBay sites, Amazon UK, and Amazon Germany (which is much cheaper for the model than the UK site).

It's even got model car enthusiasts fired up, as you can see from this video looking at it...

We've just got news of another addition to the European leg of the Roger Waters - The Wall Live tour. Always a popular venue, the grass-covered Palais Omnisports de Paris Bercy, in the French capital, hosts another show on July 1st to join the one on June 30th added last month.

This date makes it four at this venue, one of the better places to see a show in France, and tickets are bound to go fast. Tickets for the first two shows there (on May 30th and 31st) sold very quickly indeed, and the two later shows are bound to follow suit.

General sale tickets for the June 30th and July 1st shows will be available from February 2nd at 10am, through FNACspectacles.com and other official agents.

All of us at Brain Damage offer our heartiest best wishes to Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason, who celebrates his 67th birthday today.

The cornerstone of the band, he had his first drum kit at the tender age of 13. A member of Pink Floyd since the earliest iterations, he is the only one to have appeared on every one of their albums. Thanks to his father Bill, he has been a "petrol head" from a young boy, and cars have been - and remain - one of his major passions in life. His latest book, Passion for Speed, was recently published, and the first of a series of DVDs focusing on his cars (with Nick heavily involved) was released at the end of last year.

He has contributed to a number of magazines on motoring issues over the years (including a fascinating monthly column in Octane Magazine), and indeed three years ago became president of the Guild of Motoring Writers. He is a trustee of the Beaulieu National Motor Museum, and a life member and Guardian of the BRDC (British Racing Drivers Club). He has been involved in motor racing since the early 1970s and has entered Le Mans five times.

Congratulations Nick - and many happy returns!

This afternoon, Syd Barrett: Art and Letters, the largest ever exhibition of Syd's artwork, has been announced. It will be held at the Idea Generation Gallery in London from 18th March to 10th April 2011.

Celebrating Syd's creative output as a visual artist the exhibition will bring together the largest and most comprehensive collection of his artworks, letters and photos to date. Revealing a lesser known side of Syd's creativity the original artworks will be exhibited alongside previously unseen photos of Syd and his band mates, and the letters he wrote to his first love Libby.

The unique exhibition will launch alongside the publication of Barrett, the definitive visual companion to the life of Syd Barrett. As with the book (which is selling quickly, so ensure you get your orders in soon), the exhibition has been organised in conjunction with the Syd Barrett Estate and in co-operation with the Barrett family. The exhibition has been produced and curated by Essential Works, Idea Generation Gallery, Will Shutes and Brian Wernham.

The Idea Generation Gallery is at 11 Chance Street, London E2 7JB, and more information can be found at their website: http://gallery.ideageneration.co.uk.