Have your say on changes to MoT Testing of older vehicles – but act NOW to make your views heard... by Dave Moss. Testing of vehicles of historical interest (VHIs) is a part of the new, innocuously titled European Directive 2014/45/EU which sets changed and updated rules on vehicle and trailer roadworthiness testing generally, repealing a directive dating from 2009. The obvious question … [Read more...]
News & Views
Our take on what’s been happening in the world of motoring
We appreciate that these days there are vast quantities of motoring news items freely available to all, from huge numbers of global sources. It would be impossible to bring them all to you through these pages – so we are not even going to try!
Instead, we will include selected motoring-related stories which we feel will be of interest. Depending on the item, we hope that they will also inform, encourage, entertain and provoke further thought!
Each item will be dated, and as new stories arrive, older posts will be archived chronologically.
Infiniti QX30 First Impressions, plus Motor Industry Update
Keeping Calm and Carrying On… The UK Car Manufacturing Industry. British built Infiniti QX30 first drive. By David Miles (Miles Better News Agency). Good news from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) is that despite the uncertainty of the Brexit vote to leave the EU, the UK’s car production for global markets achieved a 14 year high in August and a 12% increase year to … [Read more...]
Toyota Mirai (Hydrogen Fuel Cell Car) Test-driven
Chris Adamson tests the 2016 World Green Car – the new hydrogen powered Toyota Mirai… (Words and photos by Chris). Dwindling and increasingly expensive reserves of petroleum products and increasing pollution of our planet from burning fossil fuels means that a cheaper, cleaner and more efficient way of using the earth’s resources is needed if we are to retain our access to personal transport… ie … [Read more...]
DANGER – High Costs Ahead… THINK Before You Fill Up Your Car…
Accidentally filling your vehicle with the wrong type of fuel can cost you dearly in time and money – in addition to the price of the wasted fuel. A report by our special guest contributor Miss Fuelling… Many of us (including me!) have done it; others have come oh-so-close… I’m talking about filling your vehicle with the wrong sort of fuel. Today’s forecourts always seem to be ultra-busy and … [Read more...]
Ethanol and Classics Don’t Mix! Vital Information You Need to Know… Our Must-read Final Episode of Three.
Ethanol and the Classic Car Fuel System – Part 3, by Dave Moss. Photos by Kim Henson and Dave Moss (as credited individually). Since 2011, suppliers have been blending a gradually increasing ethanol content into UK fuel – reaching the level around 5% known as E5 early in 2013. Official approval already exists to continue raising the proportion to 10% – the E10 level, and quite simply, none of … [Read more...]
Danger Ahead! Ethanol and Classics – Part Two of our Three Part feature
Ethanol and the Classic Car Petrol Engine... Part 2 – An Overview, by Dave Moss. (Photos by Kim Henson). For owners of older vehicles, the rising amount of ethanol in fuel raises concerns falling broadly into two distinct areas. One is ensuring the continued overall integrity of an ageing fuel system, considered in part 3. The other, outlined here, is the range of possible adverse effects on … [Read more...]
Poole Accident Repair Paints a Picture of National Success
Poole-based car bodywork and paint specialist Poole Accident Repair is delighted to announce the recent success of apprentice Sam O’Shea, 22, who has worked at the prestige repair centre since he left school in 2010. 2016 has seen Sam win the highly acclaimed title of VW Group Paint and Body Apprentice of the Year – a national award that saw him top his category against the country’s best … [Read more...]
Kim’s Tips: Check Your Nuts, Bolts and Screws for Tightness
Loose Fasteners are Bad News... Advises Kim Henson. It may seem obvious, but whenever a vehicle – old or new – is being worked on, fasteners have to be released/removed in order to take off ailing components so that they can be repaired or renewed. Equally these fasteners have then to be refitted/retightened when re-assembly takes place. The thing is… It is always wise to re-check the … [Read more...]
Ford to Reduce Investment at Bridgend Plant
Ford will cut its next stage of investment in Bridgend Engine Plant. Report by Robin Roberts (and Miles Better News Agency). It planned to spend £180 M to safeguard 750 new jobs when 250,000 Dragon petrol engines went down the lines from 2017. But a year after making the announcement, Ford said yesterday it would now put in £100 M to build 125,000 units and protect 550 jobs. The Welsh … [Read more...]
Bridgestone Helping to Keep an Iconic Jaguar Model on the Road
Bridgestone to develop new tyres for the XJ220... Thanks to a coming together of minds, Bridgestone has started working with Don Law XJ220 in the UK to develop a new generation of tyres for the legendary Jaguar XJ220. The original collaboration in the development of the tyres for the XJ220 is well documented. However, tyres of the size required for the car went out of production some … [Read more...]
Great Dorset Steam Fair Delights 2016
Steam power galore, vintage/classic cars and commercials, working horses plus an amazing World War I commemorative display – and much, much more… It all added up to the 2016 Great Dorset Steam Fair. Kim Henson was there with his cameras… With an event as vast in scope and size as the Great Dorset steam Fair, it’s a job to know where to start, when talking about it to people who have never yet … [Read more...]
Beaulieu Autojumble Celebrates 50 Glorious Golden Years
Beaulieu’s Magnificent Golden 50th Autojumble. All words and photos, except photos as noted below, by Kim Henson. (With further photographs, individually acknowledged with grateful thanks, provided by Chris Adamson, plus two courtesy of the National Motor Museum). Although at times the weather wasn’t kind, over 36,000 attendees strolled around the hallowed Autojumble fields at the National … [Read more...]
Audi Customers in Poole Take Advantage of a New Registration, a New Centre and a New Event
NEW REGISTRATION, NEW CENTRE, NEW EVENT From 10pm on Wednesday 31st August customers were welcomed into the brand new Poole Audi Centre on Old Wareham Road in the Dorset town, in anticipation of collecting their new Audis, all boasting the September 2016 66-registration plate. (For more information on this amazing new Audi Centre, as recently fetured on Wheels-Alive, please click HERE). More … [Read more...]
Five Things to Check/Consider When Buying a Vehicle that is New to You
Guest Contributor Giles Kirkland – a professional mechanic and passionate car enthusiast – shares his thoughts/advice for anyone thinking of buying a car... Words by Giles Kirkland. Photos by Kim Henson. When you buy a vehicle that is new to you – whether it’s previously owned or straight from the factory – there is always a lot to consider. Usually, buyers are concerned about the asking price, … [Read more...]
Happy Days in South Africa with an Austin 11-55
Glen Smale recalls his Austin 11-55 in South Africa… Glen operates Virtual Motorpix and his recollections about his own 11-55 first appeared on own his website blog: http://blog.virtualmotorpix.com (Kim says: “Just to set the scene, it may be helpful to explain a little about the Austin 11-55. This was a South African version of BMC’s 1100 (ADO 16) that was introduced in the UK in 1962, and in … [Read more...]
Danger ahead!! A must-read for all classic car owners! Increasing ethanol content in petrol threatens major difficulties for older vehicles…
Ethanol and Classic Cars... An Uneasy Mixture – by Dave Moss. Do you run a classic car and wish to continue driving it in the future? If so, our Wheels-Alive guide to ethanol in petrol is ESSENTIAL reading… Part 1 – The Background Ethanol is alcohol, which, but for the fact that it’s chemically modified, would be drinkable. In its original form, dating back into the mists of time, it was often … [Read more...]
Suzuki Celerio 1.0 SZ3 Dualjet Road Test
Suzuki’s compact Celerio is a practical and willing five seater companion for any journey… Kim Henson test drives the Dualjet-powered 1.0 litre version, in SZ3 form. Suzuki has long excelled at producing small, economical models that are dependable, inexpensive to run and easy to own. The five door Celerio is primarily aimed at buyers in need of a city car, and examples sold in Europe are … [Read more...]
Amazing New Audi Centre Opens in Dorset
A Car Dealership – But Not as We Know it; Poole Audi’s State-of-the-art New Centre Opens its Doors to the Public. Words and photographs by Kim Henson. Poole Audi has been operating in the east Dorset town for the last 16 years, and has grown steadily during that time, to the extent that it has outgrown its previous premises. It has therefore relocated into a brand new, up-to-the-minute base, … [Read more...]
Bridgestone Helps Keen-to-learn National Tyres Apprentices
The Kids Are Alright! Bridgestone Backing National Apprentices. Some of the most promising automotive apprentices are being backed by the world’s number one tyre and rubber company, as they make their way into the fast fit industry. Bridgestone is lending its support to National Tyres for a fourth consecutive year, courtesy of a number of ‘tyre toolbags’ to help them with their career … [Read more...]
Bikers Beware – Check Your Machine’s Tyres to Stay Safe
Bridgestone issues safety call amid spike in bike usage... Bridgestone’s very own ‘bike guru’ is offering a series of simple safety checks for riders to bear in mind as they take to the roads in growing numbers over the summer holidays, after declaring: “The majority of bikers don’t check their tyres.” Senior motorcycle product manager Gary Hartshorne, who has more than 25 years’ industry … [Read more...]
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