Caution! New Year Ahead!

Clear road ahead on the CV-2014

If on January First, 2014 we have survived the roads of Valencia for another full year, we should congratulate ourselves and take a moment to smell the rose of survival. Far too many people needlessly died this past year while simply trying to go from a to z. It didn't have to happen that way. If we survived, our luck held for us and we did nothing to tempt fate.

The good news is that the annual death toll on the roads continues to fall, and hopefully the final figures for 2013 will show an even bigger drop. Of course we will all reach the end of our lives one of these days. That's natural, however, it does not have to be in a car crash, especially one where people who had nothing to do with the incident are killed as well. As long as we continue to remember that our car is not our living room, and that we don't have to answer the phone immediately when it rings we increase our chances of seeing another year off, followed by a brand new one.

The world has become a very interesting place especially because of the pace of change. It makes living to see what's coming next worthwhile. Personally I would like to live to see my 100th birthday just so I don't miss anything really important.

I want to wish all of my fellow drivers a new year without motorig problems of any significance. Perhaps the new year will bring a new car for you, the car of your dreams that will take you to new places to do new things. You just have to stay healthy and alive to realise these possibilities, so drive carefully. Remember that the life you may save may be yours, or mine.


Happy Motoring, 2014!

Copyright (c) 2013   Eugene Carmichael

A New Day is Dawning for the World of Driving

Two Ferraris crash. What could possible have caused that?

Driver error would be my guess! That coupled with excessive speed could lead to such an event. I apologise to the drivers if I am wrong but these are really expensive cars, and they are very tempting to drive fast. The fact is that driver error is generally the root cause. I have been reading an opinion by Josh Grasmick, a contributing editor to "Technology Profits Confidential that really resonates with me because my thoughts have been growing along the very lines that if we cannot trust individuals to drive with care, then that responsibility should be taken away from us.

We are living in the age of technology where problems such as this one is within our grasp to resolve. Scientists and engineers have already developed the prototype of flying car, and the driverless car is already here even though we might have driven behind one without knowing. So, why not place more effort behind bringing the technology to the masses? Well, our governments might not want to do so because the high death rates on the road does constitute a form of culling of the species. That sound trite?

The world's population now stands at a bit over seven billion, and by 2050 it is pedicted to rise by 50%. That would be unsustainable, but in the absence of some horrific war that would wipe large chunks of people off the face of the earth, how else do we effect control? Let's face it, any attempt at deliberate birth control will not be polictically acceptable, but if people do insist in treating our cars as our living rooms we will continue to kill ourselves and others.

Once in a while we are treated to film footage from the police helicopter showing what people get up to while driving along the highway. The worst thing has evolved to be driving with a smartphone in hand. I thought a smartphone required a smart person to operate it, but there is nothing at all that is smart about even talking to someone on a hands-free system. I found that I was so distracted that I was missing just too much that was important for me to know.

For my money the sooner hands-free driving comes into being, the better. That would be just about right in terms of timing because I must admit that I no longer enjoy the actual task of driving. I'm happy to get in the car and go when I'm ready, but actual driving has become a real chore.

Can I please retire?

Copyright (c) 2013   Eugene Carmichael 

On the Lighter Side

A really cool Lay-z-Boy Reclining chair

In the eyes of the police there is no such thing as a funny drunk driving story. The police leave their sense of humour at home, so don't try and make them laugh. However, provided no-one has been hurt, you sometimes just have to laugh.

In China, the boss took his employees out to dinner. Afterwards, they all realised they were too drunk to drive and the boss didn´t want to leave his car downtown. He only lived 3 miles from the restaurant, so they asked a policeman what to do. He said that as long as the engine was not turned on the car could be pushed. That is what they did, with the boss sitting behind the wheel. No problem!

In England, a very drunk dad took his daughter's Barbie electric car down his drive and onto the street when the police happened to be passing. They booked him for drunk driving, and when asked to plead, he replied I am a total twit!

A woman who held a very responsible job found herself driving home after having consumed far too much to drink. The 9-1-1 operator received a call about a woman driving while swerving and evidently drunk. What colour of car is it? It's a maroon Chevy, came back the reply. Are you sure the person is drunk? Yes, because I am that person. Wonder whether she got fired or promoted?

Many years ago in my native Bermuda, a real character of a man who owned horses, but who was a real serious drinker lost his license because of multiple DUI convictions. When next seen he was drunk on his horse, so he was charged with operating a vehicle whiled impaired. He said, why don't you charge the horse too, he's drunk as well.
Lawyers spent hours of the court's time arguing whether a horse is a vehicle!

The Lay-Z-Boy recliner pictured above is an amazing chair. It is fillted with an on-board stero system, a cup holder, and a magazine rack. It is also fitted with wheels, a lawnmower engine, a steering column, a clutch and brakes.

It was while the owner was driving home from the bar that he slammed into a parked car that the  trouble began. Now, it has been auctioned off by the police department for $3,700, which they keep. Now they are lying in wait for the guy who bought it,  because they know he won't be able to resist taking her for a spin.

Sometimes, you just gotta laugh!

Copyright (c) 2013  Eugene Carmichael

It's a car! It's a bed!

Congratulations if you ever made love in one of these!

I was talking to a friend about all the cars I have owned over the years and that set me to thinking about the first car I owned, a Ford Prefect, cream colour, bought secondhand from a U.S. Navy officer. I loved that car, and everything about it. I treated it like the most valuable piece of art.

As I drove it around and about I felt that all eyes were on me, and I was King of the Road. I think that every young man wishes for his car to act as a chick magnet. It never occurs to us that the girl is in love with our car, we're just the driver. I wanted to talk a little about the most important aspect of owning a car when you are young and the uses to which we put it.

Sooner or later, (mostly sooner) a young man tries his best to be seen by the girls in the hope that one will find him, or his car attractive, and perhaps he will get to take her for a ride and spend some quality time together.

Let's face it he has sex on his mind, and so does she, or at least something like what he has in mind. But, did the designers of the car ever consider that might be a principal use?  I think frankly, they did, and still do. In fact that may have been the main consideration that led to the front wheel drive. No longer do we have that annoying middle bump that was so hard on my shins.

The times we would take a girl for a drive and fully expect her to "come across" because it was the natural thing to do.  We never had a thought for how the girl felt. I guess the fact that she willingly got in the car with the driver must have meant that she was in the mood to at least fool around a little. However, things had definately gone way too far when the guy would make her get out and walk if she didn't "put out."

Some of the boys who did that went on to grow up and become politicians or bankers, so I guess I can rest my case and say no more. In my own defence I never did do that. In fact I can say, with head held high that I took disappointment fairly well, and in fact my life's mantra is that "Life will hand me disappointments from time to time, whether I am ready or not. I must simply learn to accept them with more grace."

There never has been a lot of room in the cab of the car for making serious love. Some of today's cars have folding seats that leave useful floor space, especially the seven seaters, but will a young person be seen behind the wheel of such a car.

I'm now a 74 year young guy who can still remember with some fondness those early days. The things we got up to in our youth, but amazingly I never broke any laws, although there are some fathers  I would not have liked to have come face to face with.

I have to wonder whether anybody uses their car as a bedroom these days. With motels and Inns that are not shy about making it clear that couples are more than welcome to stop in for a not so quickie, the use of a car might be real tacky.

Times change leaving us with some really pleasent memories and a scrapped car that would have a lot to talk about. It's just as well that cars can't write books.

Copyright (c)  2013   Eugene Carmichael

What on earth?

Something is seriously wrong in the Community of Valencia

It has come to light today, November 22, 2013, that the Department of Traffic has sent out more than a half million demand notes to registered owners of vehicles demanding payment for road tax, and accusing people of not having their vehicle examined by the ITV, (MoT), nor of having held insurance for some time.

Well, yeah, that would be a good exercise to place the spotlight on those who have not been properly following the law, but in one case, one of these letters was addressed to a woman who has been dead for 17 years and her car was passed through the desguace to be written off the road. Another vehicle was written off about 40 years ago, and yet another was written off 43 years ago. In that case it was the driver's first ever car and caused him to sit and look at the letter for a long time to try and remember something about the car. 

What on earth has gone wrong? Could it be that data from the desguaces has not been forwarded to the DGT, or, could it be that the problem exists somewhere within the DGT? Whatever, this is a worrying thing because when we write off our vehicles we walk away with that piece of paper in the knowledge that we have done as we are required and that is the end of it.

To have the DGT come back to us after 43 years demanding that we show cause why we haven't put our car through the ITV or held insurance for these many years, nor paid road tax has to be reason for some sleepless nights. I think someone within the DGT might have picked up on the hint that its not the fault of the car owner. Especially when you are about to send out 500,000 such letters.

Spain, you're a wonderful country and I love you, but when you make a mess its bound to be one that takes one's breath away!

Stay tuned, this can only get worse, much worse!

Copyright (c) 2013   Eugene Carmichael

Gloves!

Suddenly, I need my gloves!

We have all been commenting on how warm the weather has been, and even wondering whether we were going to have a winter this year. Personally, I kept the faith. Winter was coming, of that I was sure, but I really didn't do much about preparing for it.

I knew where I had stored my warm things from last winter, and when I needed them I would simply go and find them. Suddenly, in the twinkling of an eye things changed. The winds came down from the north west and all those people on the beach were nowhere to be seen. I was in shock! Quick, get out the electric blanket and the heaters and the socks and long sleeves, and my gloves: Where are my gloves? I have at least three pairs but they are nowhere to be found.

One of the first hints we receive that we are growing old is a failing memory. I am having trouble remembering names and what I had for lunch today, so it was no surprise that I might forget what I did with my gloves from a year ago.

I temporarily gave up looking for them, but it was while thinking about something else I did find them. Where were they? In the most unlikely place. They were in the glove compartment of my car.

What a place to put my gloves. I am simply not that organised. I am becoming scary in my old age.

Copyright (c) 2013   Eugene Carmichael

A Pardon is Overturned

Going to Jail

There is a case here in Spain that has troubled a number of people for a long time. The outline is as follows:

In 2003, a man finds himself driving the wrong way along the highway, and he does this for five kilometres. We are not given any idea as to why this happened, such as drunkeness or impairment due to drugs or tiredness. He comes to a sudden halt when he runs headfirst into a car driven by a 25 year old young man. The impact kills that young driver.

The wrong-way driver, that we call here a kamikaze, is found guilty and sentenced to a 13 year jail term, but his lawyers manage to keep him out of jail for nine years when they finally ran out of options and he began to serve his sentence.

After serving only ten months the justice department, through the minister grants him a pardon from serving any more time, and he pays a 4,000 euro fine, and he is free. The public and his family were outraged because they saw a number of factors that may have come together to provide him with such favourable treatment. They saw this as corruption and a miscarriage of justice. They appealed the pardon to the Supreme Court which agreed and over-ruled the it.

The man is still free as the government has three months to either decide to accept the ruling as it stands, in which case he goes back to prison to complete his sentence, or they can confirm the pardon under circumstances that eliminate the doubtful environment that existed at the time.

We must bear in mind that the life of a young man was snuffed out through circumstances that were avoidable. That young man is still dead.

Has Justice been served or made a fool of, that is the question?

Copyright (c) 2013  Eugene Carmichael

What a difference a week makes!

Behold! The first flying cars!
Not these, they are only actors.

In my previous blog of Sunday 20th October, I wrote that I had been daydreaming about flying cars, but that no-one had succeeded in developing one to date, and that I was certain that there would not be a flying car in my lifetime. Well, today, one week later, I am eating my words.

The headline read: "After 80 years on the drawing board, finally success!" That is enough to make me go into culture shock. It seems that the Boston based firm of Terrafugia has spent the past six years engaging all of the finest minds and approximately $10 million to bring to reality the first real flying car. They have completed preliminary testing of a two-seater, with four wheels that will attain a top speed of 70 mph, and will fly at 1,500 feet. Wow! That takes my breath away.

It has received provisional approval from the FAA, and barring any unforseen obstacles could be ready for sale in 2015, although the first generation will likely have a hefty price tag. If we have to ask we can't afford it.

This model will need an airport, so it will be driven like any normal car, only with folded wings, and at the airport the wings are opened and up you go. It is called the Transition and gets 35 miles to the gallon on the highway, and 20 in the air.

Already, a new model is in the works, called the TF-X, a four-seater electric power drive that will be a vertical take off and land system. No airport necessary! It will also employ an Autofly system that will fly itself and have inbuilt crash avoidence guidence.

I now believe that all things are possible in my life time. I should have learned my lesson with the release of Nelson Mandela and the end of Apartheid.

Copyright (c) 2013  Eugene Carmichael  

Flying cars in the Future?

One grounded vision of the future

Often while driving along familiar routes our minds go blank, or we turn to fantasy. I had such an episode recently when I turned to the future of driving. We have seen those fabulous movie scenes where travel by car is off the ground. The Sound and Light studios have developed some incredible visions for us, but will they ever become reality, and if so, why?

I principally drive around Valencia, Spain, a very modern city, but I was trying to visualize cars and trucks moving at streetlight heights off the ground, and how would that work? Firstly, there is the problem of not having mastered safely driving on the ground. For instance, when traffic comes to a roundabout all drivers wear an expression that says, "Now what do I do?"

Travel off the ground by car cannot envision simply going in any direction that comes to mind. We have that now, which is why we also have so many pile ups. For instance, where we have six or eight lanes of traffic, what could the driver be thinking when he is on the far left and cuts across all lanes to get to the far right? (I'm not making this up. It actually does happen.)

• So, if not free choice there will have to be ground control electronic guide rails and stop/go controls. The operative word is control, and that is what is missing from present day motoring. By giving the motorist the freedom to choose these are some of the things he chooses to do:
• He will not signal his intentions. You have to read his mind because he believes its against the law to signal. Students of the "Big Ideas" program are looking into something they call Search/Alert Communicative Turn Signal system that would help the driver with signalling. It would also help in merging.
• Merging is important because at the moment, should I be in the middle lane I can expect cars to overtake me in the right hand lane. Yes, that's illegal in the country, and its also deadly.
• Drivers who are at stop lights often move off while the light is on red. The light is about to turn to green, however, due to a lack of patience our man prematurely makes his move. On the other side the other man really doesn't want to stop and wait until he gets the green, so more often than not these two geniuses meet by accident. They have to be saved from themselves.

I could go on at length, but if we are going to have to build all these controls on the ground so as to allow air travel, why bother? I think we will see ever more sophisticated types of vehicles for ground travel. Small cars for city travel will get even smaller and lighter, and run by battery. Technology will advance to have cars drive themselves on implanted grids, but the idea of cars floating around in mid-air is not likely in anybody's lifetime, and that includes those still in the womb.

Stay tuned!

 

Copyright (c) 2013   Eugene Carmichael

A Perfect Day is a very Fragile Thing Indeed!

A day for a perfect drive!

Sunday, October 13th, 2013 is one for the record books. It has been a truly perfect day in so many ways. My wife and I arose early, for a Sunday to attend a morning concert n Valencia City. The weather was bright, dry, with a breeze that felt soft to the skin. Temperatures would rise to 30 degrees, but that soft breeze kept the sun in a kind mood.

We left the house and drove out onto the "B" roads that then led us to the "A" roads. Traffic was very light, and what there was went about its business in a reasoned manner. There was a time when you coud not venture out onto the highway without encountering someone with manure for brains. Today, all my fellow drivers were considerate, as I was to them.

Best of all was the vast majority of traffic lights were green, just for us. We arrived at the Music Palace in time to park and get seated just in time before the start to give ourselves five minutes to relax. I will describe the concert as being O.K. It was a fundraiser for charitable work being undertaken in Rwanda, a country that can use all the help it can get. There were parts of the concert that were pleasing, so I will leave it at that.

Following the concert we paid a visit to a new friend, and we then made our way home via a different route. Still, traffic was light and driving was very pleasent.

We took our lunch on our terrace in a nice leisurely style, and following that I read from my new book, "I am Malala!"

And then I fell fast asleep. So wonderful!

A perfect day is like fine cut crystal, prone to shatter by the least little thing. They happen very rarely so when they do we tend to enjoy them all that much more.

Life is so wonderful at times!

Copyright (c) 2013   Eugene Carmichael

Speed Limit to increase to 130kph in Spain

I don't know, and neither does anyone else!

The present speed limit throughout Spain is 120kph. Not such a long time ago the limit was reduced to 110kph on the logic that the country needed to conserve fuel and to make our roads safer. When the limit was lowered many people drove at 130kph. Then, it was decided that 110kph was too slow, so the limit was restored to 120, and people still drove at 130. I always wondered whether it was decided that the country didn't really need to save fuel, and safer was too boring. That's possible because ours is a nation that plays with raging bulls and gunpowder.

Now, in certain stretches of roadway the limit will be increased to 130, such as they do in France. But people being people, they will drive at 140 because there seems to be something in the DNA about being disciplined and observing the law.

It would be interesting to hear the thinking behind this move. It just may be some kind of pyschology that says if we are all really good and we stick to the lower limits, we will be rewarded by being able to legally drive at a faster rate in certain stretches of roads. It might be seen as a kind of safety valve to let off some of the steam. Germany has its autobhan with no limits in certain sections, and the aforesaid France with 130 in places, so perhaps there is a kind of cool method to the madness.

However, Spain is tightening the screws on other things in anticipation of the higher limits, especially driving while intoxicated, something I thought would never change. I have been scared sober because of the crackdown, drinking only alcohol-free beer if I have to drive. In so far as speed is concerned, I am a retired person with no place to get to in a hurry, so I will continue soberly driving at my steady 100kph while the world passes me by. I'm so good! (Pat on  back.)

That works for me in my Volvo.



Copyright (c) 2013    Eugene Carmichael

The Gorrillas

Parking with the assistance of gorillas

The gorillas to which I refer are men who have come to Spain from north and south of the Sahara Desert. They are undocumented immigrants who are ineligible to be given work, if there was any work, because they have no papers. To obtain an income whole armies of these men takeover a street, and when the motorist approaches looking for a parking spot they signal where there is an empty space. They will guide you in, and if you are very kind to them they will look out for you so that should you overstay your time, when the parking warden comes around they will buy you an extenstion of time so that you avoid a ticket.

Obviously they expect you to reward them on your return. Most people give them a euro in the belief that if they don't these men will damage their cars. I have no proof but I think this is not likely to happen because the last thing they need is police attention.

I wish that people would not leave their villages in Africa to make the extremely dangerous crossing of the Sahara and the sea to come to Spain, where Spanish people are leaving because of a lack of opportunity. The immigrants get here and they have to sleep under bridges; they find their food in garbage bins and they struggle to survive. Along the way, who knows how many died or were taken advantage of by the unscrupulous?

Apparently, the system they use to bring in a little money does work, and it should be borne in mind that a part of what they earn is sent back to Africa to benefit their families. Intolerant people condemn them and call them gorillas and the police regularly round them up, fine them, or put them in jail, but they go right back to doing the same thing when they are released.


It's a tough life, but I think that what they are doing is far better than breaking into my house or mugging me in the street. I say, live, and please, let's do our little bit to let them, and their families back in Africa,  live.

Copyright (c) 2013  Eugene Carmichael

A real modern windscreen for my car!

A windscreen to fight the sun

Myself, together with drivers of multi-wheel vehicles all over the world struggle to try to come back to a car that we have parked, that isn't an oven, by placing a piece of cardboard to block out the sun on the windscreen. As we drive into the sun we have a sunvisor each for the driver and the passenger. Neither can see where we are going when the visor in turned down. It's time for a modern solution to this age old problem.

I suggest that car glass be connected to the electrics (as they are already for heating) so that at the flip of a switch when the engine is turned off the glass becomes opaque to keep out the sun uv rays. When the engine is started the effect would be cancelled. Upon the impact of direct sun rays on the windscreen the glass would react in the same way that my own prescription glasses do, by providing a light tint across the middle, and along the top quarter the colour perhaps might take on a bluish transparent hue to take the place of sunvisors through which we can see nothing.

In an age of Smart Phones that do very impressive things that should be impossible, I'm sure that through the concentration of scientific minds a thoroughly modern windscreen can become the norm.

However, look for it first on the Mercedes S class!


Copyright (c) 2013    Eugene Carmichael

Where was my movie camera when I needed it?

Please car! Stop moving!

I was walking downhill on the sidewalk in a town when I noticed ahead of me two men chatting. Behind them was a car parked partly on the sidewalk and part on the road, which is not unusual in these here parts. One of the men decided to lean on the back of the car, and at that moment the car began to roll forward.

The reaction of the man was what we might have expected. He scrambled to hold on to the car to stop it becoming a runaway, kind of like what our model in the picture is doing. The poor guy was frazzeled and freaked out of his mind, until he realized that there was a driver in the car, and she was quite determined to go on about her business. If he insisted on trying to hold her car back that was his business, but she had places to go, people to see, and things to do.

Off she went leaving him standing in the street looking really confused. He looked at his friend; his friend looked at him and together they exploded in laughter. A street full of people joined in, but I was the person best placed to have got the award winning Funniest Home Movie worth a bunch of money.

I should be laughing all the way to the bank.
Oh well!

Copyright (c) 2013   Eugene Carmichael 

Understanding what your tyres are trying to tell you.

To understand the narrative of your tyre is important for you and for me.

In an very small sampling I discovered that most people have no idea what the information outlined on the sidewall of their tyres is trying to tell them, and even more alarming, not one of those to whom I spoke had even looked at their tyres in any meaningful way. To be honest and open I was one of those people, so I thought I had better develop my own information about something so critical and share the knowledge gained.

I have tyres that display the following markings as to size. 225/60 R 16 98V M+S. This number is inscribed on my ITV (MOT) document, which means that I must drive with this size tyre, or an acceptable form of same.

225 is the width of the tyre tread in mm. A wider or, I suppose a more narrow tread may be acceptable, but this is the factory fitted size.
60 is called the aspect to ratio, meaning the size of the tyre wall is, in this case 60% of the width.

R indicates that this is a Radial type, which means having the core fabric layers arranged radially at right angles to the circumference and the tread strengthened.

16 is the diameter of the wheel size the tyre is to fit, and is expressed in inches.
98: This is the maximum weight capacity of the tyre according to the official index table. In the table this translates to 750 Kgs.
V: This indicates the maximum speed at which the vehicle can be driven that the tyre can support. The index table rates this as 240 km/h or 149 mph. Presumably this will never be tested on a family car.

I have no idea what the M+S means.

There is a four number stamp that is important because the numbers indicate the manufacture date. The first two numbers reflect the week during the 52 weeks of the year that they were pressed, and the other two numbers are the year of manufacture.

There are other stamps that are of a technical nature that reflect such data as noise rating and approval stamps of various authorities. There is also a warning as to under and overinflation, but the one thing that is often missing is the normal pressure rating.

These are factors to keep in mind should you wish to replace the factory tyres with others. Having oversized tyres may seem cool, but they are not likely to pass muster at ITV and they may not be safe.

Copyright (c) 2013    Eugene Carmichael

More adventures in buying a Secondhand Car

Would you buy this car without knowing its history?

It's clear that most of us own and use our cars without giving the slightest thought to one day in the future having to pass it on. If we did we would do a lot of things to keep its resale value as high as possible. Instead, we live for today and generally only concern ourselves with whether it will start or not and get us to where we want to go.

This attitude is not entirely unjustified because if we find ourselves trading in our car to buy a new one, the dealer will offer us something insulting, even though we have maintained our car in tip top condition. He will then have the nerve to ask thousands from a buyer, pointing out that the previous owner took exceptional care of the vehicle.

In looking over some cars we have found a number that were in very dirty condition. First rule: if you want to sell your car, at least make it presentable. Just because it has always been kept in a slovenly condition, there is no reason to expect a potential buyer to be interested in buying it, even though he might also keep it as though it were a tip.

Personally, I insist on keeping the interior of my car in clean condition, but, that's just me. The moment I saw cars for sale that were dirty and uncared for I was ready to walk away. In fact, those cars were not ready for sale.

One of the best cars we saw that has us thinking about it is a 4x4 in apparent excellent condition. It is being sold through a division of a business that takes in cars that are to be written off. Those vehicles that are in such condition that they have more life to them are rehabilitated and placed on secondhand car sale. However, they are offered for sale without guarantee, even although it is a company that is selling them.

In such cases, the car's history is essential, but this particular car has no documentation of that nature, not even the owner's manual. To buy such a car would truly be a big gamble. We would have to drive it directly to our garage and have all belts and chains replaced and the car be given a complete service. For the consideration of a substantial discount on the asking price, we might do just that.

We will keep you informed.

Copyright (c) 2013   Eugene Carmichael

Buying a secondhand car

Buy a secondhand car is a very confusing thing to do.

I live in Spain. There is one thing that I know without any doubt, and that is that every secondhand car sold through a dealership is well overpriced. It's as though there were some kind of unspoken conspiricy. If you were a new entrant to selling secondhand cars you would simply take your lead from what everybody else was doing and you would price your cars in line with the market. The mere fact that I would only be offered a pittance by the dealer to take my car off my hands, say fifty to one hundred euros, would not be any reason why it should not be offered for sale for three or four thousand euros.

It is true that a dealer has to offer a guarantee to the buyer for twelve months, but the guarantee has to be carefully examined because it may be virtually worthless. There is an expression that says "money for old rope." That´s what seems to be taking place in my mind on the used car sales lot. I have bought a few cars from dealers and that has led me to this conclusion. I even think that they must shake their heads when another deal has been concluded, in the disbelief that another member of the public has just walked in and given them a fist full of money for nothing.

To scientifically value a car for secondhand sale one should start with the book value that depreciates the vehicle over the years, according to a formula. As a potential buyer with the car in front of you, value can be either added to the car depending on how well it has been maintained, or deducted if it has been badly treated. There must surely be an agency that provides the book value of secondhand vehicles in Spain, but if so it must be a closely guarded secret.

The fundamental problem in buying secondhand is that we are buying someone else's problem without knowing what that problem is. This is the one activity where "Buyer Beware!" applies more than any other. You know that the money you pay that changes the title on the car is only a downpayment. You hope that you will be able to work through the problems that await you without the need to fully renovate the car.

I bought a 1995 Volvo 850 about six or seven years ago. I bought it from the owner of a dealership selling secondhand cars. He had bought himself an "S" class Mercedes as people kept handing him gobs of money. However, it was not too long before the Volvo started simply dying in the middle of traffic. After about 30 seconds I could turn the key again and it would re-start. The solution was to change the main fuses, but for far too long I ran a great risk of getting killed by traffic behind me who were not expecting my car to stall.

The car has run reliably ever since and I absolutely love it. I also have a Jaguar XJ6 Sovereign that is in such good condition that it seems to have just come out of the showroom. However, when I bought it the seller didn't tell me that it was impossible to lock it. For more than a year I drove the car around and left it parked, think it was locked, and it was only by accident I discovered the truth. Only God knows what else is wrong with it, but I drive it so rarely that nothing else has shown up. It is a real Jag classic, and just having it parked in my garage gives me such joy as I am a real Jag man.

I have been lucky! I have a friend who has three cars that he bought and are all rotting away in his back yard as they are all lemons. But then, my friend is a professional victim, so what can I tell you?

Copyright (c) 2013  Eugene Carmichael  

Who needs Cars?

Elon Musk: A man of Ideas.

(The way to unlimited riches is to build a better mousetrap.)
I don't know who I am paraphrasing, but if you want to get rich simply come up with a better way to do what we do as routine.

Elon Musk is the man who brought us what is now Paypal, and the Tesla electric car, and SpaceX, and now he is focusing on the public need to travel faster and safer.  In fact, he envisions a system to travel on land at speeds up to 760 miles per hour. You probably have heard the announcement by now that he is proposing the Hyperloop, which may, or may not ever become a reality.

There are a whole lot of obstacles in the way of completing a real life system between two major cities, but for the moment that is not the point. The fact is that Elon Musk is still cooking and coming up with fabulous ideas. The science in Hyperloop seems sound and worth serious consideration.

This is an idea worth following to see how it turns out. The point is that the day of safer and faster travel by car is coming, including driverless cars.

Stay tuned!

Copyright (c) 2013   Eugene Carmichael 

On the road once more

Driving the roads of Green Britain

For those of us who live in Spain it's a real treat to drive the roads of the U.K. as the countryside is so green and lush. There is a reason for that. It's called rainfall that can make driving something of a real challenge at times. When you mix torrential downfalls with fog and large lorrys throwing even more water at you it is very tempting to just pull off at a rest stop and have a cup of tea.

I hired a car from Sixth, and I was satisfied with our transaction. They had promised me a VW Polo or similar. What I got was a Citroen C3 Picasso. I  had not noticed the car before. When I saw it I felt certain I would be disappointed driving it, but it handles really well, with plenty of leg and head space. It is a light car which suggests to me that it might plane on wet surfaces, but other than that it went really well.

I would add one word of caution: when booking a car hire next time, I will do so directly with Sixth rather than one of the other booking agents. The problem to avoid is that of purchasing insurance. I will want to have a contract directly with the company I am renting the vehicle from, and not with a third party. Also, it is important to be sure that the vehicle's glass and tyres are covered as well as the excess.

The other thing that concerns the visitor to England is the purchase of British pounds. At the airport there are many Currency Exchange booths. The traveller simply goes to one of them and makes a purchase. However, I suspect that each booth is in competition with the other and by shopping around you might be able to find a better deal. That no one does that is probably taken advantage of by the dealers.

Driving the country lanes is a real hairaising thing to do. There is barely room for one car, but you are constantly encountering cars coming the other way and they are usually moving fast. Why there are not more crashes remains a mystery. However, some of the seaside towns are so charming. One such place is Mousehole, although you are advised to park on the outskirts and take a walk through the town. It is such a rewarding thing to do.

Copyright (c) 2013      Eugene Carmichael

Warning! Thefts from parked cars on the Increase

Thieves are waiting just for you!

Thefts from parked cars has always been with us, but we  must be aware that perhaps because of the deeping economic crisis, or simply because the thieves are getting greedier,   that losses are mounting. Be especially aware that if you are travelling as a tourist they are just waiting and watching for you.

My son has been robbed twice in less than three months. Once, when having simply left the car across the street from a cafe, but shielded from his view, items that were in sight of passersby were stolen. On that occasion the lock on the car door was broken. The second time, items that were left in the boot were taken. This is more sinister than the first robbery because evidently he was under surveillance as he took some of the things into the hotel while leaving others that were not needed out of sight. To make matters worse the car was opened apparently by some form of cloning device that reads your car's locking device, and with that they simply open the car as you would. (Yes, he definately locked the car.)

This is a  very worrying development as no-one seems to be safe. Especially if you are travelling it has always made good sense for someone to stay with the car while the others went into the cafe for coffee. Now, we will have to decide what we will  leave at risk. Clearly, our valuables will have to be taken with us, leaving the thieves with only our laundry.

It would be a good recommendation for us to be aware and to employ good common sense in the protection of our things. No longer can we expect to leave items in the car, perhaps covered up, and to find them when we return. Whether it's need or greed on the part of thieves we would do well to remember that many people had breakfast in the morning as we did, and then they went to work, looking to see what they can take from us. Also remember, I'm only talking about the thieves who want to take your things while you are absent.

There are also the thieves who don't care whether you are absent or present. These are stressful times indeed!

Copyright (c) 2013   Eugene Carmichael

Summer Driving

Summer driving without airconditioning!

I have just completed a roundtrip journey of 500 kilometres. That is a tough slog without a/c, although my volvo is a real trooper, I really do miss the cooling system as it was. In fact it has two compressors. It was always so wonderful to push the button and have the first compressor kick in, followed a few minutes later by the second one. I suspect I need to replace them with new, but given the age of my car I most probably would be buying  secondhand. However, I am tempted!

The going out part of my journey was not bad as I left early in the morning when the breeze was soft and light. I was fresh and the temperature had not yet reached its nadir. I ate lightly and stopped at the two-hour mark for rest. When I arrived at my destination I was ready for business.

The return journey was a different story. I set off at the height of the sun's punishing heat with the air feeling like an airliner's exhaust. I drove north for a part of the way with the sun focused on me at an angle that roasted my left arm and cooked the left side of my face. That continued until I made a welcome right turn to the east that put the sun behind me. The greatest part of my journey was with the sun behind me, but the damage had been done. By the time I reached my home I was drained of energy and I was almost dehydrated.

That night I slept well and long. Travelling can really sap your energy. In my case I didn't even have the added stress of dealing with all those annoying little security people along the way.

Safe Summer driving to you all!

Copyright (c) 2013   Eugene Carmichael  

The Policeman and the double parker.

A figure of respect

This is a story of how to make unnecessary trouble for yourself.

I had just parked my car and got out when a big Audi pulled up and a lady got out and went across the road. I expected that the driver would have driven off to park on a side street as he was seriously interrupting the flow of traffic. A policeman across the street was trying to get the attention of the driver, who I'm sure was aware but ignored him nevertheless. Finally, the policeman crossed over the street and knocked on the window pane and asked the driver why was he ignoring the policeman's signal to move on.

The driver stated that he was waiting for his wife who had gone into the bank. The policeman said that he was clearly causing a traffic jam and that he was directed to move his car and park it on a side street. I guess the driver considered himself someone who was above the law. He decided to reprimand the policeman for being "so unreasonable." Wrong!

He got an earful about the fact that the policeman was an authority figure and an agent of the law, and that the driver had better consider his next response very carefully or he was about to go to the cop shop for a chat. Fortunately, the driver came to his senses and apologised and obeyed.

To begin with, he could clearly see the inconvenience he was causing by being double parked, but he didn't give a damn. Once it was obvious a policeman was instructing him to move on the order should have been complied with immediately. Why complicate the issue by getting in an argument with a cop.

Some people really do know how to complicate their lives!

Copyright (c) 2013  Eugene Carmichael 

What happens when all the traffic lights go out in the City?

A driver's worst nightmare!

It was six-forty pm on a Tuesday. I was in the far righthand lane of five lanes that had  the red light. Most traffic was waiting to cross over four lanes of up traffic so that they could either cross over the four lanes of down traffic, or to turn left into those lanes. Fortunately for me I was one of those waiting to turn right into the up lanes.

Without warning the lights went out. That was because there was a power outage that affected the entire city. In a situation like that all traffic must come to a standstill and revert to the protocol where no traffic lights cover the junction. Drivers must give way to traffic approaching from the right at cross junctions, or wait for traffic to pass if you are on a side street. That didn't happen.

There arose such a cacophony of noise from car horns, and a lot of swearing and pushing out into the flow, causing lots of squealing tyres. I was able to merge with the traffic but I was desperate to get off the street and park. I had to go around the block twice before a space opened for me, and I can't really impress upon you enough how relieved I was to be out of that mess.

If drivers used the three "C's" of the road, being Courtesy, Care, and Common Sense the crisis would have passed smoothly and without all the stress.

Something to remember for the next time.

Copyright (c) 2013   Eugene Carmichael 

World Naked Cycling Day

W.T.F???

Here's the scenario:

My wife is driving in the centre of Valencia during the midday with her friend who is a conservative lady. They arrive at a red light as they notice a police car emerge across their street. Behind the police car come  so many naked cyclists that they have to wait through two sets of lights. Both my wife and  her friend look at one another with jaws dropped and eyes as big as saucers. They blink several times as this is a complete and utter surprise. Neither has ever heard of World Naked Cycling Day, and they were certainly not expecting to wind up right in midst of the event in downtown Valencia.

The first time I had ever heard of such a thing was during the visit to Valencia by the Pope. The city spent millions of euros of taxpayers money on the event. However, in this Catholic country there are a great many people who have turned off from the church, and many objected to the use of taxpayer money for the visit. They asked for a permit to protest during the Mass given by the Pope. Their permit allowed them to do a silent passby on pedal cycles absolutely naked. It seemed thousands participated. It was just as well that the day it was held was perfect. I have chuckled every time since when I think of it, but I never knew that the tradition of cycling in the nude goes back a very long time.

WNCD in San Francisco marked their tenth anniversary when  participants are invited to join in and be as "Bare as you Dare!" The only essentials are helmets and sunscreen, although many people don't even bother with those things. I am not a cyclist, for a very good reason. The last time I rode a bike I remember getting off it feeling so sore around my nether region, and I was wearing reinforced spandex. I cannot imagine how uncomfortable the men must feel, just to make some kind of statement, but I did notice lots of women wearing panties. presumably in the interest of avoidence of injury. As for those who went bareback, yes, I do admit to enjoying  thinking how that must have worked for them, and what injury they may have incurred, but really, that may have taken self-inflicted wounds a step too far.

I have looked through a gallery of pictures and I noticed that people used the event for all sorts of personal creative expression, including body art, street theatre and political protest. One article  mentioned that many of the events held pre and post celebrations. I wonder just what may have gone on during those times. I think I may have missed out on something really nice. Oh Well!

The ideas that people come up with that seemingly sound like fun but are not all that they are cracked up to be. Cycling nude has its drawbacks such as burnt nipples and overbaked penis' and sore sexual parts, but if anybody is thinking of holding a naked swim-a-thon. men should be warned that a dangling penis in the water looks like a juicy worm to a fish.

We know what fish do when they spot a worm. Ouch!

One of the great beauties of nature. Pure eye candy! 

Copyright (c) 2013  Eugene Carmichael

Rolling Thunder !!!

Rolling Thunder! Once in the Presence, never to be Forgotten!

Memorial Day in the United States of America is a specific day that is set aside for America's fallen heroes from wars past and present, as well as those still living to be  honoured and remembered. Whether those Missing-in-Action; (MIA), Prisoners of War, or permanently injured, regardless of whether the politicians were fully justified in taking the country into a specific conflict, the men and women who were placed in harm's way deserve the nation's respect.

One way that respect is demonstarted is by the motorcyclists of America bringing a great and thunderous noise upon Washington D.C. According to Donna, my daughter, who attended this year's event, it appeared that every Harley Davidson every manufactured desended upon the city, along with every Honda Goldwing, and every other make of bike was represented. In fact, it was estimated that about 700,000 bikes showed up, although it would have been difficult to count them because they never stop moving.

They did a pass around The Washington Mall, flying the American flag and allowing the thunder to roll. It took more than three and a half hours for them all to pass one single point. What a sight that must have been. I am a motorbike petrol head and I would have been in my element if I was riding.

My only hope is that the single point I referred to wasn't a motorist waiting at a stop sign for them all to pass so that he could continue his journey. Whether you were a patriot or not, you would have had your patience severely stretched.

Copyright (c) 2013  Eugene Carmichael

EMS Emergency

Taken for Granted?

The more I look into emergency services the more complex it becomes, and the more I come to realise how very important it is to everyone who is a potential user.

What is EMS (Emergency Medical Service)?

A service to be found in all civilized countries, providing emergency first-aid response; sometimes known as the First-Aid Squad; The Emrgency Squad; The Rescue Squad; Ambulance Service; Ambulance Corps; or Life Squad.

The primary goals are to provide treatment in situ; in transit, or simply rapid transit to hospital  or clinic.

An ambulance can be requested by an ordinary member of the public, or by authorities. The principal differences are determined by the level of training of personnel in attandance. Those personnel who only provide rapid transit are no better than a taxi or private car, except that they provide a strecther for the patient which may be more comfortable.

 Ambulance personnel, including the driver should be certified in at least basic first-aid. At the other extreme end personnel include a doctor, nurse, and assistant, and driver offering Advanced Life Support and the best chance of survival.

Ambulances are owned and provided by Fire Services; Police services; National Health services; hospitals; and private companies that include large industrial corporations that maintain a fleet to deal with possible industrial accidents.

Ambulance crew titles include, Emergency Medical Technician, Ambulance Technicion, and, in my opinion the most extensively trained is The Paramedic. This person, in the United States and Canada might be certified to carry out a wide range of critical life-saving procedures outside of a hospital setting that no other person, except a doctor is authorised to do. That makes the Paramedic the star of the show.

There is so much potential work for ambulances that I was trying to imagine what an average day in the life of an ambulance might be like. I have concluded that there is no such thing. Presumably they can go for long periods of time without much of interest, then suddenly and without warning they are pressed into using every bit of skill they posses.

The odd thing is how much we take the ambulance service for granted. Even the driver might hold twenty or more certificates, so never again will I undervalue the men and women of our local ambulance.

Copyright (c) 2013   Eugene Carmichael

Breaking News! Too many old cars on Spain's Roads.

A Rolls Royce. A car for Life!

I had intended that my blog for today would be a continuation of the story of the all-important role of the ambulance. However, during the week it was reported that the Dirrecion General de Trafico of Spain has deemed that the age of cars on Spain's roads is too old. It seems that the average age is 9.5 years, and the DGT deems 7 to be more acceptable.

I imagine that one reason people are holding on to our cars longer is that the country is firmly stuck in an economic situation unlike any before it, with more than six million people unemployed, and those who are employed unsure of tomorrow. When talking about reducing the age of cars the complexity of such a program is off the scale.

To begin with, the average budget family car will have a normal life cycle of about ten years. After that you will find it will spend about as much time in the garage as on the road. Top of the line cars have about 20 years as a normal life cycle, and after that they start getting familiar with the garage. So, these should not even be considered as old cars until they are about 25 years old. With many top brand names costing close to 200,000 euros, they had better last and last.

If your parents gave you a Rolls Royce and chauffer for your eighteenth birthday, you will have no need to ever change the car. The chauffer yes, but the car will outlive you. 

When the consumer buys a car and just holds on to it forever the impact is felt by the manufacturer and staff, and by the sellers of new cars. I'm not even sure it would be safe to say that we would all probably like to change our car for a newer model every year if we could. I have two old cars: one is a Jaguar XJ6 Sovereign, in mint condition. It is my classic. The other is a Volvo 850 GT that does the heavy lifting every day. It is such a well made machine, and so reliable that I absolutely love it. If I could dump it and buy any new car that I wanted I would still hesitate to do so because it is like my comfortable old slippers.

What Spain needs is a turnaound in its economic fortunes that put people back to work. Managing a country has always been about timing of its growth. There are certain fundamentals that are ignored at peril. The one that was ignored was the runaway building boom that has resulted in the over stock of homes and commercial buildings.  Everybody was so caught up in their own world of commissions and bonuses that no-one said "Hold On!"

The economy has always moved in an up and down cycle. Proper management provides for both cycles to be as short as possible. Spain has committed the ultimate sin by allowing the construction sector to go wild and build into a twenty-year future. That means that the country has so much vacant stock that it does not need to build another thing for about twenty years. Every person, every family that leaves the country in the meantime makes the housing situation worse as they vacate their space. It is construction that usually leads the way out of the downturn, but Spain does not have that ability, so I cannot see how we will get out of this hole.

Sure, if people scrap their old cars for new ones, that would maintain work for the manufacturing sector and their suppliers, and the new car sales industry, but if the DGT simply refuses to relicense old cars where will the money come from to buy new? Needless to say, we need our cars to get around. They are not a luxury!

Some times in this country we come up with ideas without connecting all the dots. I hope this is not another one of those.

Copyright (c) 2013  Eugene Carmichael

Emergency Medical Services in Spain

One of these in your rearview mirror and you need to make room for it to pass!

I wrote of the design of the funeral hearse in my last blog. Little did I know how close I had come to writing also of the ambulance service as in days gone by, often a funeral director was the operator of both services making multi-use of the same vehicle. After all, if you needed to lie down did you really need two vehicles if you could accomplish the same thing in one?

I guess we all became a little squemish, but I can understand that. I imagine having had a bad accident and being collected in the dual use vehicle. If you woke up along the way you could be forgiven for panicking. Am I dead?
Am I on the way to hospital or mortuary? It is quite enough to have to worry about how the hell am I going to pay for this?

We take our Emergency Medical Services for granted because whenever we need them they are there for us. However, a lot of thought has gone into making the service what it is today. In the past often the means of taking someone to hospital was in an available car. A passenger waved a white cloth out the window and the driver lay permanently on the horn. Many of  today's ambulances offer only transportation to hospital with no first aid enroute. These are called : "Ambulancia no-assistancial." They are generally crewed by one driver, or perhaps with an assistant as well.

From June, 2012, the crew of these ambulances must hold an EMT-B certificate, or a Professional Ceretificate of Proficiency for emergency Technicians. Although they do not promise to offer assistance along the way, should the need arise they might intervene to try and get the patient to the hospital alive.

The next step up from that are those ambulances noted as "Ambulancia de SVB." That means that they do provide basic life support, and are generally crewed by two or three personnel.

At the top of the chain is the "Ambulancia de SVA/UVI Movil." If this service is available to respond to really complicated emergencies patients have a better chance of survival to hospital as the service includes a doctor, a nurse, an assistant and a driver. This is the most advanced system in Spain and approximates the EMS service in The United States of America.

I have grown very interested in these types of assistance and rescue services, so I will study more on the most extreme services with a view to writing about a day in the life of such a crew.

More next week!!!!

Copyright (c) 2013  Eugene Carmichael

The Undertaker's Hearse

Why do we need all that window space when we can't see out?


I recently found myself to be the first car following a hearse. It was not a funeral, just that he was driving along with me following. That is a much better situation than to have a hearse following me, as happened many years ago. On that occasion he followed me for such a long distance I had the feeling he was sending me a message that said, "We're ready when you are!"

I know, this is a bit of a downer topic, but its just that I got to wondering why a hearse has so much glass. The one that I was following had curtains that were closed, so presumably he had been to collect someone who had died, and having put that person in a body bag the driver thought it best to close the curtains.

When they are taking the body to the cemetary the curtains are open, displaying a coffin. People along the street couldn't give a fig's leaf, as long as it's not them, and even if they did give a glance all that they see is a box. Whoopie!

Normally, the only people who care and are drawn to the event taking place are family and friends. The rest of the world have no need to view the box because it is an unnecessary reminder that our time is coming, and probably all too soon. That leaves me wondering about the design of the hearse, and what was in the mind of the designers. What do they think is being accomplished?

Just one of those everyday things that we generally don't give a thought to.


Copyright (c) 2013    Eugene Carmichael

The Great Motorcycle Taxi Service

A motorcycle taxi for two!

I have been down this road before, but a friend has just come back from Africa and the thing that she found most difficult to adjust to was being taken on the back of a motorcycle every time she had to get somewhere.

We go about our daily business in such comfort and security that we never spare a thought for travel options in other countries. Here in Spain, a taxi ride usually means in a saloon car with seat belts. In my own country they use mainly seven-seater cars that are kept immaculate as a matter of pride for the driver who also is dressed for the part. In New York we have heard some horror stories about the yellow cabs that are sometimes driven by people who have no idea of how to get to where you want to go. It is also in New York where you can choose to call for a Town Car service, and you will find that this is the extreme opposite to a possible yellow cab ride.

The developing world is another story. If you're lucky, getting there by a tuck tuck could be a luxury way to go, but in so many other countries the only option is to go by motorcycle. In my country you can actually hire a moped, but for some Americans it proves too much to adapt to riding on the left side of the road. There have been some deaths because this type of mistake is unforgiving, although most people do get it right.

My own experience of riding pillion passenger in Africa was unnerving because I could not afford a stay in hospital due to a crash. Most of the guys do ride carefully, but the one time one of them did go down he was at least moving at a slow pace and I was able to hop off and I even helped him. It was perhaps because I have been a motorcycle rider all my life, but sometimes things happen due to slippery wet conditions or patches of sand that are difficult to avoid.

What drove me crazy was to see bikes with two adults and three children, with shopping. I would cringe thinking of that accident just waiting to happen, and of course, the children would pay the highest price.

Having said that, since time began my fellow countrymen have carted all manner of things on their bikes, including the family Christmas tree. I guess it's about making do with what you have, but as a tourist I do sympathise with the young lady. A taxi to us means at least something that has four sides.

 Room for one more!

Copyright (c) 2013   Eugene Carmichael

Dream time at Ricardo Tormo Race Circuit!

Special Race Day at Ricardo Tormo Circuit, Cheste, Valencia, Spain

Sunday, May 5th, 2013 the racing circuit at Ricardo Tormo, in Cheste, Valencia opened the course to all those Wanna Be's who have dreamt of being a Hamilton or a Vettel or an Alonzo. You were permitted to bring your private car to the course, and after paying an entry fee of 250 euros, plus incidentals like insurance, etc, you got to go out on the course and do your thing.

I had considered taking my Jag along, but I'm not so sure I should be racing my classic car around the course. That would be pushing the car to, and probably beyond its limits, which would be a terrible thing to do to an 18-year old. So, I went to watch the action. The first thing I noticed was that there was not one Jaguar in the place. A wise choice on my part! I got there about 11am, and the only action that was taking place was with three Formula 3 cars that were doing the course, then coming in to the pit stop for a change of driver. That gave me the impression that I had misunderstood. It seemed that you could only go around the course in one of those.

I was beginning to have second thoughts. That would have been different. Perhaps I should sign up. However, at noonday, (12o'clock) out came the procession of private cars. They were 24 in all. One car was allowed to go around on its own. It fished tailed all the way, seeming never to gain control. Everybody stood and watched in awe and horror. Why was this happening? The answer was simple. The car was being driven by a stunt driver, but he succeeded in freaking out all the novices who were ready to go.

The line up included a Porshe, several BMW's, a couple of Mercedes, and a red Ferrari. They were supposed to be able to do four laps of the course, but in the end they were allowed to do about double that. They all began nicely enough as they got the feel of the course, with several coming in to change drivers. As they got into the swing of things they began to relax and the competition became fierce with a whole lot of overtaking going on, just like on the motorway. The Ferrari came in for a change of driver, and as the new driver was making his second lap, he skidded and spun three times, ending safely off the track. The car was not damaged although it took them a long time to return to the pits, mostly I think, because the drivers were so shook up. I'm fairly certain the driver must have tightened his butt muscles.

I think everybody must have had fun. They certainly drove their cars hard. At least two came in to say that they had no brakes because of overheating. They were lucky to have had a perfect day, weather-wise, although the moderately hot conditions would not have helped with tyre temperatures. Fortunately there were no accidents that involved damage to cars, nor injuries.

Closer to Christmas there will be Classic Car Day at the track that will allow me to take the Jag to the course and to drive children from some care homes to fulfill a wish for them. It will also fulfill a wish for me as well, so I will definitely look forward to that. It''s in my diary so I will report on that experience with pleasure.

So, you want to be a race car driver? Private cars on the race track at Cheste.

Copyright (c) 2013  Eugene Carmichael