A fascinating new book about Austins – with a different historical approach... Reviewed by Kim Henson. Title: An Austin Anthology Author: James ‘Jim’ Stringer Published by: Veloce Publishing Ltd; www.veloce.co.uk 112 pages; hardback Price: £14.99 UK; $25 USA. ISBN: 978-1-787111-91-2 All motor car manufacturers have interesting and often offbeat aspects to their history, many of … [Read more...]
Features by Kim Henson
In life, sometimes there are things that you just have to do. In my case many of them relate to my twin loves of 1) motoring, and 2) using writing to convey to others (and share with) my fascination for the subject.
I have been passionate about cars for as long as I can remember, and have always had a thirst for knowledge concerning how and why they work, and how to keep them operating as they should. In addition, I’ve always enjoyed driving, and trying to fairly assess and compare the various good and bad points of different makes and models.
Ferrari: Under the Skin – Enlightening exhibition now on in London
Kim Henson visits a unique exhibition of interest to anyone who likes motoring history in general, sports/racing cars and Ferrari in particular… (All words and photographs by Kim). For most motoring enthusiasts the Ferrari name conjours up thoughts and images relating to speed, style, technical prowess, motorsport success and a unique sporting character. Celebrating all of these aspects and … [Read more...]
60 Not Out!! ‘Car Mechanics’ magazine still helps motorists get the best from their vehicles… Special celebratory issue out on 15th March.
Kim Henson reports on one of the longest-running motoring magazines – going strong after 60 years, despite huge changes in car technologies and fashions. In the spring of 1958 a new motoring magazine caused something of a stir; the first issue of ‘Car Mechanics’ appeared, with the cover date April 1958. Like its long-established rival ‘Practical Motorist’, it aimed to help advise readers on how … [Read more...]
Kim’s Tips: Extreme Winter Motoring – Take care; don’t be a Chilly Billy…
Colder and colder… don’t get caught out… Kim Henson advises: Stay safe, keep mobile and warm, and look after your car. With temperatures already low and forecast to plummet still further, and with predicted heavy snowfalls across the U.K. this week featuring prominently in all the weather forecasts that I have seen/heard in the last few days and hours, now is the time to think seriously about … [Read more...]
Book Review – Reliant Three-Wheelers; The Complete Story
Reliant Three-Wheelers; The Complete Story. Reviewed by Kim Henson. Title: Reliant Three-Wheelers; The Complete Story Author: John Wilson-Hall Published by: Crowood; www.crowood.com 176 pages; hardback Price: RRP £25.00; Crowood website price £20.00; also available new on the internet for £10.00 or less. ISBN: 978-1-84797-806-6 Three wheels on your wagon? Three-wheeled vehicles … [Read more...]
Drivers put safety at risk (and burn more fuel) by ignoring their tyre pressures!
Michelin and Kwik Fit find that four out of 10 motorists are driving on “Dangerous” or “Very Dangerous” tyres… Almost 40 per cent of cars in the UK are running on at least one tyre that is “dangerously” or “very dangerously” underinflated. The figures come after Michelin and Kwik Fit inspected more than 500 vehicles in Tesco car parks around the UK. Michelin classifies tyres that are … [Read more...]
UK car hire company battles Amazon Rainforest deforestation – and its CEO wins an outstanding achievement award…
How a UK car hire company is fighting Amazon Rainforest deforestation – and its CEO wins a major outstanding achievement award… A leading low-emission vehicle rental company has made progress in its plans to help prevent deforestation in the Amazon Rainforest. The Amazon Rainforest supplies more than 20 per cent of the world’s oxygen. However, deforestation by commercial logging and … [Read more...]
Our Grumpy Old Mechanic underlines the benefits of regular maintenance…
Cam belt catastrophes and other (usually avoidable) horrors... Our Grumpy Mechanic says what he thinks about ignored maintenance. Every day I see the expensive results of vehicle maintenance being ignored. Notably these include engines that are clogged up internally because the oil and filter are not changed frequently enough, also written-off valves and cylinder heads because the cam (timing) … [Read more...]
‘Golden Oldies’; Retrospective Road Test No. 2 – 1991 Peugeot 205 1.1 Trio S.
Peugeot 205 – “le sacré numéro”… In the second of our new series on Wheels-Alive, Kim Henson test drives Peugeot’s 205, in this case a 1991 1.1 litre Trio S three door version. (All words and photographs by Kim). Note: "Wheels-Alive gives you more..." If you would like to turn back time 26 years (on a temporary basis!), at the end of this feature are direct 'interactive' links to enable you … [Read more...]
Cars in Films – A website that will help you search for your favourites!
Find your favourite cars/movies within a fascinating website (microsite) taking you to a wealth of motoring adventures from the big screen... Kim Henson is your guide... For motoring enthusiasts, there is always something special about the multitude of iconic cars used in films, and the scenes in which they appear. To cater for these, this 'Pop Culutre Cars' website (please click HERE) provides … [Read more...]
Kim’s Tips: Haven’t the foggiest? Take extra care if visibility is poor…
Driving in fog? It’s vital to see and be seen, and not to be mesmerised by the murk… advises Kim Henson. Driving in fog can be a frightening and potentially dangerous experience, but foggy weather is not unusual (in the UK at least), especially in winter, and it is worth taking extra care to try to ensure that you stay safe if you are obliged to drive in such conditions. These tips for … [Read more...]
Winter weather news: TAKE CARE OUT THERE; it’s more slippery than you think…
As freezing, snowy weather arrives with a vengeance, Bridgestone hopes flurry of winter driving messages will stick... With the temperatures plummeting across the UK in recent days and heavy snow falling in parts of the UK, Bridgestone is urging motorists to take some simple driving tips to stay as safe as possible. With a marked drop in temperatures now being felt, Bridgestone’s managing … [Read more...]
SERIOUS DANGER!!! Zafira rust nightmare revealed by our Grumpy Old Mechanic!
If you drive an older Zafira, you NEED to read this. Our Grumpy Old Mechanic reports... Our Grumpy Old Mechanic avoids sensationalism but feels it important to reveal a safety-critical problem of which most Zafira owners/operators are almost certainly unaware… Last week a very tidy-looking first generation (‘A’ Series) Vauxhall Zafira 2.0 DTi dating from late 2003 was brought in to our … [Read more...]
Ford’s Fiesta – a look back at more than 40 years of this winning model
Ford's Fiesta versus the sands of time... by Dave Moss. In 2006, 30 years on from the original launch of the Fiesta, Ford gave selected motoring journalists the opportunity to compare original models with the then current car. Dave Moss was one of those who enjoyed a drive down memory lane... The original Fiesta, its name chosen by Henry Ford himself – and which very nearly became the Ford … [Read more...]
Book review: Gullible’s Travels – About two extraordinary ‘against all odds’ journeys, 70 years apart, undertaken in 1947 Austin Sixteens
Kim Henson reviews this entertaining book, and says, “If you like motoring adventures you really won’t want to put down this fascinating book, until you have finished reading it…” Title: Gullible’s Travels… Authors: Alan C. Hess and Guy Loveridge (with a Foreword by Leonard Lord). Published by: Douglas Loveridge Publications, 85, Warburton, Emley, West Yorkshire, HD8 9QP. 214 pages … [Read more...]
Honda NSX ‘old and new’ plus Civics ‘classic and modern’ – Kim’s Impressions
Kim Henson revisits Honda’s sensational first series NSX – and drives the latest car bearing this revered name, also taking brief outings in Civics old and new too! All words and photographs by Kim, with the exception of the main front and rear shots of the 2017 Civic Type R – these courtesy of Honda). As a motoring writer, one of the questions I am most often asked is, “What are your … [Read more...]
New or older cars best overall for the environment?
Buy new or carry on with the devil you know? Kim Henson provides some food for thought on this… (Note from Kim: The two photographs in our heading sequence are depicting current and older –1996 – Vauxhall Astras, just as examples). There is much debate currently taking place regarding vehicle emissions, the clean air/pollution issue and the environment in general. There is also much … [Read more...]
Sun-drenched Dorset Delight
Kim Henson looks back happily on the 2017 Great Dorset Steam Fair… (All words and photographs by Kim, who adds, "Of course this is a motoring magazine website but I have also included photographs of 'non-wheeled' aspects of the Show, hopefully to illustrate its wide appeal to everyone in the family). The magnificent, five day long Great Dorset Steam Fair is a huge annual event that takes place … [Read more...]
Suzuki ALLGRIP models – Getting to grips with them during road (and off-road) tests
Kim Henson heads off to the Welsh hills to test drive examples of vehicles equipped with Suzuki’s ALLGRIP four wheel drive system technologies, the details of which vary according to the model... (All words by Kim; photographs by Kim and – where indicated – Matt Kimberley). For many decades Suzuki has been associated with producing highly effective and very reliable four wheel drive vehicles, … [Read more...]
Brief Impressions – Cars driven at the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders’ Test Day South 2017
Testing Times! Kim Henson reports. I have always found useful and enjoyable the annual SMMT Test Days, which provide accredited motoring writers with the chance to sample a selection of new models from a variety of manufacturers. This year was no exception… All words and photos by Kim, with the exception of the main heading photograph, kindly provided by Jeremy Walton. Each year the … [Read more...]
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