Messages

1

General Discussion / Re: The F Word : Japan

« on: October 04, 2007, 03:40:57 pm »

I have been following F1 since Graham Hill drove (that gives a hint of my age!). I was getting bored until Lewis arrived, this season has been good.

But if the FIA penalise him, then that is it, I'll just watch other things and leave F1 to the masses. When will they realise that Ferrari is not the only team that can win??

Plenty of other drivers have made minor infringements of the 'rules' and got away with it, so should Lewis.

Maybe it is the rules that are wrong?

Hoping to get to Le Mans next year, maybe some other endurance races.

2

Help / Re: Calais Overnighter

« on: September 11, 2007, 12:00:51 pm »

Had some excellent meals here: http://www.les-dunes.com/ when I've been over to top up the cellar (OK, the shelves at the back of the garage!). It has rooms, might be worth a go.

Commonly called 'Les's Place by my booze-cruise companions!

3

Help / Re: Mid Life Crisis

« on: September 11, 2007, 11:57:04 am »

I'm in a similar situation, but for company wheels so tax effectiveness is important. I'm after a hatch, not estate but want diesel and auto.

Favourite so far is the Skoda Octavia 2.0 TDI DSG (140bhp), in L&K trim - all the toys I can think of! Hatch comes in at just over 20k for the P11D value.

Looked at Mondeo, but...... expensive to get close to the Skoda (and I don't REALLY want to drive a Ford). Also looked at Passat (too expensive) and Mazda 6 (heard horror stories about reliability).

Currently waiting for extended test drives for both Skoda and Ford, I'll report back with my thoughts!

4

General Discussion / Re: who had the coolest car.....

« on: July 24, 2007, 03:25:30 pm »

In order:-

Hillman Minx IIIc (two-tone - cool!)
Austin Mini 850 (absolute rubbish! taught me a lot about car mechanics!)
Hillman Imp - Lovely!
Ford Cortina 2000GXL (same colour as the one on 'Life on Mars')
Then company cars kicked in:-
Ford Cortina Mk.III Estate 1.6L
Ford Cortina Mk. IV Estate 1.6L
Ford Cortina Mk. V(?) Saloon 2.0GL
Ford Sierra 2.0GL
Ford Sierra 2.0GL Auto
Vauxhall Cavalier SRi (the real one with close ratio box and 7.5" rims!, great for hammering around East Anglia)
Ford Saphire 2.0 Ghia (junk)
Vauxhall Cavalier 2.0 something or other
Vauxhall Cavalier 2.0 Auto
Renault Luganu 2.0 RXE - not bad
Renault Laguna 2.0 Executive Auto - worst car EVER! Electrical problems, auto box failed totally, alarm would go off while driving - fun on the M4 at 5:45am!
Peugeot 406
Mercedes C220D - You only get this much kit for HOW MUCH?? Unreliable too, and THAT parking brake which the missus could never get the hang of.
Rover 75 Tourer Connesier SE - Lovely!!!! Best car!

and the next one??? Possibly a Skoda Ocatvia Larin & Klement auto diesel.

5

General Discussion / Re: Music!!

« on: July 09, 2007, 06:59:32 pm »

Well, I went to Twickenham, the sound was less than superb, and I was a long way back.....

But the performance was superb! How many bands play for 2 1/2 hours without a break!

I could see well enough, and the screens showed details (I had binos as well), the lights were great!

I love Genesis, first saw them in 197-something at DeMontfort.

6

General Discussion / Re: Music!!

« on: July 03, 2007, 04:40:33 pm »

Saw Queen (with Freddy) at New Bingley Hall, Stafford back in 197x?

I met Brian May earlier this year at the London Astrofest and mentioned the gig - he said 'was that the one where the taxis were coming over the PA?'

Godd gig, apart from the PA problems!

Saw Chili Peppers last year at Madjeski in Reading. Great gig!

7

General Discussion / Re: Sad or what?

« on: July 03, 2007, 09:39:35 am »

Missus came with me this year, she stayed in a hotel in Chartres. We had a nice weekend and I got to go to Le Mans! Everyone happy!

8

General Discussion / Sad or what?

« on: July 02, 2007, 12:19:16 pm »

I must be really sad, recording the Motors TV 4 hour summary so I can relive the best bits!

Wondering how I can let the missus know I'm going again next year, there is something about the atmosphere that gets into the blood and I'm suffering cold turkey!

9

General Discussion / Re: Music!!

« on: July 02, 2007, 12:15:44 pm »

Gigs first:-

First: Genesis at DeMontfort Hall - probably 1975/6

Best: Pink Floyd Dark Side tour at (I think) Trentham Gardens - sometime in the 70s

Worst: Mud at Derby Tech - they were aweful!

Seeing Genesis at Twickenham next weekend (will make it the third time, saw them at the NEC in 1982).

Best album: Dark Side of the Moon - Pink Floyd
2nd Best: Selling England by the Pound - Genesis

Currently listening to Maximo Park, Editors and Kooks before that.

I once played Deep Purple Speed King while driving down the M40 - the cassette went out the window when I looked at the speedo and realised it was waaaay over 125!!!!! - middle of the afternoon as well - and I still have my licence (more luck than anything else).

10

General Discussion / Re: Campsite Theft - BE AWARE !!!

« on: June 23, 2007, 08:39:51 am »

Just make sure if you write anything on them you spell it correctly!!

THIEF would be better!!

 

Grammar 

11

General Discussion / Re: Safety car usage at Le Mans

« on: June 22, 2007, 12:18:49 pm »

Maybe it is time to rethink 'safety cars' in general.

We are seeing more races 'spoilt' by frequent deployment of a car that struggles to get to anywhere near race speeds, when only parts of the circuit actually require 'safe' conditions. This is more evident at Le Mans with the longer circuit length.

Perhaps a solution is to divide the circuit into sections, and have lights to notify no overtaking in the whole section. I know there are flags, but these tend to be on a corner by corner basis. Dividing the circuit up and enforcing no overtaking would mean that cars could still race on the other sections of the circuit. It would also mean the end of pit-lane closures and drivers gettin penalised for mis-use (or they run out of fuel!).

I know that the safety car is supposed to slow the traffic down, but the drivers are (supposedly) professionals who should know how to drive in slippery conditions! Nullifying the race for just part of the lap would, in my opinion, be a better way to keep racing alive.

Time for a rethink I think!

12

General Discussion / Re: Campsite Theft - BE AWARE !!!

« on: June 22, 2007, 11:55:47 am »

From the Border and Immigration web site:-

 What travel documents do you accept at passport control?

Your document must be valid and issued by a recognised Government or Authority. The most common examples of travel documents we accept are:

    *
      national passports; or
    *
      1951 Convention travel documents for refugees.

We also accept national identity cards for citizens of the European Economic Area.

Of course, we don't have National Identity cards so UK citizens still in theory have to produce a passport, but I was told (by Eurotunnel) that any valid photo ID is sufficient. Not sure I would want to risk it again, we got away with it last time (our first question to the forgetful memeber is Passport Pete??).

13

General Discussion / Re: Campsite Theft - BE AWARE !!!

« on: June 22, 2007, 11:04:30 am »

Always disappointing to hear of things like this, we talk about degeneration of society and think it is a British thing, looks like it is happening en-France as well.
I didn't camp, I just parked in Parking Blanc on Saturday night. I managed to 'loose' my MRI wrist-band, my mobile and pedometer (I like to know how many miles I walk - 16 this year!) as I sprinted by to my car in a shower. Didn't realise what I didn't have as I made my way back to the circuit later. I retraced my steps and found all my lost items! (including all the bits of my phone as it had comeapart when it hit the ground).
I slept in my car, with the doors locked and all my valuables in my sleeping bag.

On a point of detail, we are now in the EU so don't in theory need a Passport to travel between countries! I have proved this on a booze-cruise when one of our party forgot his passport. We got to Calais without being challenged, on entry back into the UK, we explained to the nice lady customs officer what we had done. Her only comment was 'bloody French - they'll let anyone in!'

14

General Discussion / Re: Member's Modes of Transport.

« on: June 08, 2007, 10:43:18 am »

Last year in this....

15

Just To Say Hi / Re: Second time

« on: May 26, 2007, 06:47:22 pm »

It'll probably be the last clean before the end of lease pressure wash in December! Thought it might be nice to travel and arrive in a gleaming motor!

Last time was with the car brand-new (75 miles on the clock, got it the day before I headed for LM), so it was very clean from PDI.