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

The Mean Police!

Watch your Speed!

Sure! The traffic police have a job to do to maintain law and order on our highways. They enforce proper documentation and our observence of speed laws. I respect them when they warn us that speed checks are being carried out by using radar. They don't have to do that as drivers should always assume that our speed is being monitored. It is in our interest that we are being kept in check because it is usually an excess of speed that leads to car crashes. I prefer to go through my day accident-free.

There are places where the radar trap is set which is at the point that a higher speed changes to a lower one. As we pass the sign we should be driving no faster than the posted speed. Some of the signs are posted so close together I would have to stand on my brakes to comply. That is neither fair or reasonable.

During the past two weeks I have passed a particular spot where the police have set up their radar so that drivers will blindly blunder across it. I have tried to determine from posted speed signs what the limit for that stretch is, but there are no signs. When driving into the city the last signs lower the speed from 120 to 80. We drive over a bridge, and around two sets of roundabouts before driving across the radar.

On driving from the city, although there are no signs to say so, we should have been travelling at 50 kph when passing the radar. So, 80 one way and 50 the other? This can't be right. I drove through the first time at 60 without problem, so my guess is 80 must be correct, but surely, this is not the way to treat drivers.

This seems to me to be just another way to rip off soft targets. It also seems to be using the police as though they are highwaymen, and that is not in accordance with their station. I want to continue to respect what I usually consider the most professional police service in the world. Tricking drivers in this manner does not help my perception.

Copyright (c) 2013  Eugene Carmichael

Some Badass Rides!

Ambulance Anyone?

This was the scene in Boston following the Marathon Bombings on the 15th April, 2013. There are more ambulances in this picture than taxis.

Once I became aware of what was happening I spent entirely too much time in front of the television as CNN brought us Breaking News. I know this was not intended as coverage to entertain us, but it was riveting. What could possibly be worth the death and destruction that was caused by two young men from Chechyna, who were given asylum by The United States? How cold do you have to be to even conceive of something so evil. I feel certain that the older brother was the mastermind who brought his younger brother on board. The question now is: who or what  terror group were they acting for?

As coverage unfolded one thing became clear: American law enforcement have some pretty snazzy rides up their garages. Especially S.W.A.T! However, I can't show you any because if you go to any of the pages with their equipment shown, forget taking a copy. Those images are stuck in concrete on the pages, which I suppose makes sense as they will likely consider it a security issue if we get to know too much about their vehicles.

Never before has a major American city and its suburbs been completely locked down, with a full scale operation putting live rounds and bombs in play. Most homes are built of wood, so that's nothing to stop bullets entering the house. Indeed, those living in firefight zones have much to show in the way of stray bullets. Fortunately, there were no deaths or injuries from friendly fire, there was just terror and panic. In that regard, the brothers were entirely successful.

It took such a full scale event such as this to put on full display the massive armoury and rolling stock of all the agencies involved. At one time there were almost ten thousand men and women looking for this one misguided teenager. It's one thing to be a pain in the ass teen, but this guy takes the cake.

I'm glad he was captured alive because the American people need some answers. He was so young. Seeing that he and his brother had so much more explosives one can only wonder what they were thinking of doing next?

Copyright (c) 2013  Eugene Carmichael

A Marvellous Invitation!

I, like many owners of classic cars, am invited to attend a meet at the Cheste Racing Circuit, on Sunday May 6th, to take our cars around the race course to show off our darlings. Later in the year we can do this again, but for charity, although I think this time it will all be about strutting our stuff and puffing out our chests.

As I'm a neighbour of the town of Cheste, you might think that I would spend all of my time there, not missing an event. However, I rarely go there as I'm not interested in motorcycle racing, and after a few laps of cars going round and round I might as well be in downtown Valencia.

However, this will be exciting, and so I'm looking forward to it. A full report will follow..

I will have to be careful round the corners.

Copyright (c) 2013 Eugene Carmichael

When driving is no longer a pleasent experience.

This MAY have been caused by the driver sending a text message!

During the Easter week celebrations it is estimated that more than three million journeys were undertaken that would not have otherwise been done. That raised the level of danger on the roads to the maximum level. As a result of so much more traffic underway, twenty-one people, who only wanted to enjoy time with each other and relatives, actually lost their lives. They will never see another Easter, and that was too high a price to pay for simply leaving home.

My own response to statistics like these is to stay off the roads during such peak times. If I don't have to add to the problem, I would rather not. What contributes to spikes in road deaths during these times? Probably every possible situation that one can think of. Take for instance one very simple situation that happened to me. I was at the exit from my estate when a car approached from my left, swas ignalling that he was going to turn to the right. In other words it appeared that he was coming into the road from which I was leaving. However, there was another estate turning to my right, and as a consequence I am always on alert that the car indicating a turn to the right might mean the road to my right. (Hope that was not too confusing.)

This man gave every indication that he would turn into my road, so I began to move on out, but I took one more glance to the left and noticed that he had changed his mind and wanted the next exit. He was travelling too fast, and had I not braked hard he would have broadsided me, a slam that could well have placed me in the hospital. This is one of the most common causes for accidents.

Other people drink alcohol or partake of drugs that will likely impair their driving and end up killing either friends and/or family members travelling with them, as well as others in traffic.

That can be avoided by simply not drinking or doing drugs then driving, but there is another menace that should know better. That is the person who insists on text-ting while driving.  Talking on the phone while driving, hands-free is bad enough, but text-ting is the ultimate form of insanity. When the crash comes it cannot be called an accident because text-ting quite naturally leads to a collision, sooner or later.

None of these things add to driving pleasure, and the weather problems of high winds and lashing rain that caused a tail-back that extended for 160 miles between Madrid and Alicante city, that also caused a three hour delay must have been the things that nightmares are made of.

The message seems to be clear: perhaps you should not do as so many other drivers did and all travel at the same time if you would prefer to avoid such stressful situations.

Copyright (c) 2013  Eugene Carmichael

The Most Expensive Car in the World!

The rear view of The Venom. The only view most of us will ever see! 

My previous blog dealt with President Barack Obama's cool wheels, "The Beast" which carries Mr. Obama himself with four guests, plus the driver and chief of security. The cost for the super cool Beast was $1,500,000. He has two.

This blog I want to focus on the most costly car anywhere in the world. This is a car so over the top that most zillionaires wouldn't even covet one. That is just as well as only four have ever been built: one in all black for the museum, (that is called Car Zero) and three for sale. One is all red; one is white, and the remaining one is green, although in reality they should be seen as all green because that is what you need a lot of to pay for each one.

The sales price was 3,120,000 euros, which is just about $4million at today's exchange rate.

So, what's so special about this model of car? It was built by Lamborghini who created the Aventador to celebrate their 50th anniversary on which the Veneno (The Venom) is designed. They took a really great sports car in the form of The Aventador and refined it to the ultimate degree and gave the world the Venom.

The specs of The Venom are as follows:
It has a 6,498 cc engine
It develops maximum 740 bhp at 8,250 rpms.
Fuel consumption is a surprising 17.2 litres per 100 kilometres.
The engine is a 6.5 litres V-12
0 to 62mph is achieved in 2.9 secs, but equally important it will go from 60 to 0 in 100 feet.
Top speed is set at 354mph.
It carries one driver and one passenger and only two overnight bags.

There is not much else that can be said about this car except you and I can't have one, and if I had one I have no idea what I would do with it. They have all been sold. The interesting thing is one was bought as a gift to one very lucky recipient.

Copyright (c) 2013  Eugene Carmichael

See it and weep! The Lamborghini Veneno.

The Presidential Beast

The Fabulous Beast!

The Inside story of The Beast

As cars go, this has to be one of the coolest on the planet. President Obama may be preoccupied with matters of State for most of his days, but when he steps into the Beast he has to be suitably impressed with his wheels. Other countries can afford to provide their heads of state with cars of this caliber but it seems that only the U.S. president has at his disposal transport along these lines.

The FactFile notes the various features, but the only person I can think of who possibly needs all that protection is the U.S. president himself. But why? Politics is a contentious issue but other leaders seem to get along with so much less. I suspect that the high level of protection is against his fellow Americans who many are totally mesmerized by the need to hold and rely on guns to solve their percieved problems.

Be that as it may, when the President travels by road he presents a formiable show. There is the Beast, and a substitute Beast, (is this necessary?), plus an entourage that could include up to 45 vehicles. Wow!

There are no two ways about it. You definately know when the leader of the largest free-nation is in town. This is Shock and Awe at its best. Price tag:$1,500,000 each.

However............

Sometimes, even the Beast needs a lift as a result of mechanical problems. This time, in spite of the best maintenance program that any car could wish for, this Beast could go no farther on its own because of a very basic mistake: gasoline was used to fill the tank, but this is a diesal motor car. Many people make this mistake, but you wouldn't expect such a security concious group to fall prey to something so basic.

Now I don't feel so bad when my Jag gets hoisted on the tow truck.

This may be impressive, but don't get me started on the President's travel by air.

Copyright (c) 2013  Eugene  Carmichael

  

Modifications to the Speed Limits!

Slowing Down!

The DGT of Spain have asked that the present speed limit code should be modified, but the only thing the press headlines blared was that the limit was likely to be raised from a maximum of 120 to 130. My immediate reaction was, please leave things as they are. The death toll has been steadily falling over many years, so why would anyone want to mess with that?

In fact, once we get past those headlines we see that in fact some real thought has gone into the proposed changes. Yes, there is a proposal that an increase be made, but only on the motorway, and even then only along selected straights. For the most part proposals will actually lower speeds along many roadways that are becoming too crowded for present limits.

Secondary roads that at present allow travel at 100kph would be lowered to 90, and along other roads we could find ourselves moving at 70, 50, and even 20kph. However, it is human nature to feel bottled up from time to time, so, as is the case on Germany's autobahn, drivers are given stretches of road to blow off steam. Bear in mind that 120 oftens means 140, so 130 will mean 150 when road and weather conditions allow.

I personally don't like speed. Too much of it is always present in crashes, even though the car may be moving at a fairly slow pace. By lowering the limits along places where the legal limit is too high we stand a chance of dropping the death toll even more. We simply have to be careful of not overdoing things on those areas where we are given our reward for otherwise obeying the law.

I often hear people say that they drive fast, but with skill, care, and safety in mind. They really do need to add the element of very good luck to that. I think it's better to drive within the legal limits, with all those other things as well. I also have to add the element of good luck.

Let's keep up the good work and continue to drive with care and caution.

Copyright (c) 2013    Eugene Carmichael

Crazy Time is Here, at Last!

The Mascletá in Full Roar!

There is no way you could hope to drive through this mob. 

Alcohol and driving don't mix, and neither does Fallas and driving. They are things to be avoided, and Fallas and parking is worse, so leave your cars at home, or well outside the city, and try to enjoy a break in the monotony of austerity cuts and Angela Merkel breathing down our necks. I know, she's right, but gimme a break.

Spain is considering raising the speed limit to 130, just when the numbers of deaths on the roads is falling close to "only" 1000, so I guess the authorities see driving as a way to thin the herd, but I don't feel like getting heavy now because the mood is light, the sun has actually put in an appearence today, so I will leave that for another time.

We have visitors for Fallas so I am going to go out and entertain them to our way of doing things because I want to see how many times they drop their mouths open.

If you are here, I hope you enjoy the events, and if you are not, I firmly suggest that you make it one of the things on your "Bucket List."

Copyright (c) 2013   Eugene Carmichael

It's Fallas time in Valencia again. What's new?

The daily 2pm mascletá. All sound and tremendous fury that has to be heard to be believed!

It has been a year of difficult austerity that has moved things from bad to worse. How on earth did this country get itself in such a bind? When we first came here things were more or less standing still. The image of a restaurant in the north advertising for one waiter, that attracted a line of hopefuls stretching all the way to the south was popular. Then came the change from pesatas to the euro and all the secret savings came out from under the mattress and was converted into building projects that became out of control.

It's a real shame that normal steps were not exercised to control new building starts instead of concentrating all of Spain's new buildings for the next 20 years over a very short period of time. Now we are finding the country's wealth is tied up in unwanted and unused buildings that can't be sold.

Banks that financed the projects no longer have money to lend, and the government that overspent on many of the projects no longer have cash flow to support very basic social programmes. However, we Spanish are social creatures and somethings are sacred, such as fiestas. We have to party and that means the show must go on.

Somehow the city of Valencia are finding the money to stage the daily mascletá at 2pm in the plaza, and the monuments will take their places in the many crossroads that will effectively close some 600 streets. You have to be a real glutton for punishment to drive into Valencia between the 14th and 20th of March while the monuments are in place.

There are some changes this year from the 'ealf 'n safety crowd. No longer will small children be allowed to walk about with a lighter setting off crackers and blowing off fingers. In addition, children between the ages of eight and twelve have to carry with them an official copy of parental permission  to handle fireworks. Perhaps most important of all is that restrictions have been placed on where the setting off of fireworks can take place.

In the past the mischievious would throw loud crackers close to the elderly, or under the chairs of ladies sitting having a cup of coffee to see their reaction. The size and effect of the large boomers compare favourably with munitions on the war front. That was never funny, so now they must use the dry riverbed or approved park areas. About time!

The thing to remember is that Valencia becomes a very unfriendly place for cars. It's time to wear comfortable shoes and to pack your sense of humour, unless the crisis has killed it.

Copyright (c) 2013  Eugene Carmichael