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Archive for December, 2014

And Another One's Gone, Another One's Gone, Another One Bites The Dust.

Yep, just like that, 2014 has bit the dust and 2015 is mere hours away (as I write). Hope you had a wonderful, safe and enjoyable Christmas and a car trouble free one. Regrettably, the car I was driving, one that is heavily spruiked on tv, had systemic electrical issues, precluding the intended usage and definitely taking the fun part out of a three day sojourn to the south coast region of NSW.

As expected, there was a police presence on the roads but not nearly as big as expected; when I say roads, these are the main roads between Sydney to Canberra to Cooma to beyond. As expected, there were numerous acts of low driving standards which contribute to the reasons why our roads aren’t as safe as they should be. From my driver’s seat, they’re habits which infer a laziness in driving and therefore, a lack of consideration for the driver committing them and for anyone else on the road.

Since December 1 of 2014, it’s fair to say that summer really hasn’t hit the coastal areas of NSW, with substantial cloud cover, the ensuing low light levels and rain. It’s fair to say that drivers either aren’t taught or, probably more correctly, don’t think, to use headlights. Or, perhaps, they drive wearing a blue suit and red cape…Cars have a little lever that’s attached to the steering column and, when moved, make a ticky tocky noise and magically make lights at each corner of the car flash.indicator It’s truly surprising how many drivers don’t know about that lever. It’s also surprising just how many drivers will suddenly realise that there is a car in front of them, almost as if they were asleep at the wheel, then violently move into the lane you’re in and just with a metre of clearance ahead of you THEN suddenly brake….with nothing in front of them. It’s Australia’s most common crash, the rear ender and, sadly, due to drivers that simply don’t care about you.

For 2015, here’s what I’d like to see. A return to the basics of driving. Use some courtesy and indicate and indicate with plenty of time up your sleeve, especially at roundabouts. Read the road ahead and look for the slower traffic. Use headlights when it’s dark, ESPECIALLY IF YOU DRIVE A DARK OR SILVER COLOURED CAR. headlightsIf you’re out on a country drive, once outside the capital or large city metro area, headlights can be seen from quite a distance during the day. Traffic lights are a different matter. There’s too many that seem to be calibrated for the non main stream traffic, where the major road gets but a few brief seconds of green and the intersecting roads a lot longer. When it’s a “normal” intersection governed by lights, there’s more than enough time to slow and stop when the amber light comes on. All too often I see drivers go through, only to be caught by the red at the next set of lights, with those that do the right thing pulling up behind them just seconds later.

Bottom line is this; driving to the basics will contribute to a safer road environment and hopefully make a difference to our road toll.  As one philosopher said, a drop of water on its own does little but together they form an ocean. Work together to be a better ocean of drivers so our 2015 can be more enjoyable and safe. For ALL drivers on the road.

See you next year. http://credit-n.ru/informacija.html

It's Been A Long Road….

Getting from there to here…these were the opening words to the only song ever used on a Star Trek tv series, the largely unlamented Enterprise. They are, however, valid, for both the time of year and this blog. We’re getting close to the 600 articles published by our contributors; Megan, Lewis, David Lye, myself and others before us. It’s a pleasure to be part of the team and we hope you enjoy our musings, thoughts, brain rumbles and reviews.private_fleet_logo

Christmas time in Australia lies in the southern hemisphere’s summer, whilst in the north, it’s winter. Both times of year have their own weather challenges; in the UK, USA and northern Asian and European regions, there’s that funny white stuff called snow. Down here, in Australia, South Africa and America, New Zealand and various island states, summer comes with heat, torrential thunderstorms and something in between. It’s holiday time and the general process is to take the car, pack it with family and go for a drive.
Sadly, some simple things are overlooked and we see the tragic results on the nightly news. What can YOU do to potentially avoid being a statistic?
Step one: stay to a routine; if you’re an early riser naturally, you’re half way there. If you’re not, try to stay to your naturally awake time; artificially adjusting your waking zone has been shown to affect driving habits.Waking-up-too-early...
Stay hydrated; take water with you and take a few sips every half hour or so. Coffee and tea are fine, however you’ll need to bear in mind the natural diuretic effects of them. If you’re driving alone, take a break every 90 minutes to two hours; get out, walk around, stretch, look at something in the distance to give the eyes a different focusing point, rather than on the car in front.

In the age before cars became computers on wheels, we’d check oil, radiator fluids….nowadays they’re generally sealed systems so we can look at the windscreen; make sure that’s clean as dirty and grime refract light and can be distracting. Tyre pressures should always be checked and tyre tread depths are worth a look also.tyre-pressures
When out on the road, keep an eye out for the road conditions and, importantly, the driving styles of those around you. Look at what’s happening ahead of you; if there’s a flow of brake lights then you’ll be forearmed to prepare to brake. If you’re a naturally slower driver or will be towing a load, be courteous and stay in the left lane. If you need to overtake, judge where you can do it safely; don’t do it on a blind crest or a curve where you can’t see what’s coming. Drive to the conditions; it might say 110 km/h but if it’s hammering down with rain or it’s foggy, drive smart and slow down. Use driving lights and, especially if you own a dark painted car, headlights.
Finally, enjoy the drive!leadimage-420x0

On behalf of Private Fleet, the team of staff that are always here to help you buy your new car and our contributors, have a safe journey and a wonderful Christmas. http://credit-n.ru/avtokredit.html

Porsche Carrera Cup GB 2015: A Return to Form?

Image Credit: Paddock42.com

Image Credit: Paddock42.com

Since 2003, the Porsche Carrera Cup GB has become a staple succulent side dish to the mouth watering main course that is the British Touring Car Championship. As the fastest single-make GT series in the UK, the Porsche Carrera Cup GB has made a name for itself as a major stepping stone for drivers hoping to move into the glamorous world of international GT series. Some famous entrants include Tim Harvey (the current voice of BTCC on ITV4), newly signed WSR driver Sam Tordoff, Faithless singer Maxi Jazz and Porsche works driver Richard Westbrook. 2014 was a close fought championship that went down to the wire at Brands Hatch, but the series was beginning to suffer. But hope remains. After a change in championship regulations for 2015, new teams are flooding to the championship.

Porsche Carrera Cup GB Championship 2015 Overview

Rounds 1 + 2: 4/5 April – Brands Hatch (Indy), Kent
Rounds 3 + 4: 1/2 May – Spa, Belgium (FIA WEC support race)
Rounds 5 + 6: 6/7 June – Oulton Park, Cheshire
Rounds 7 + 8: 27/28 June – Croft, North Yorkshire
Rounds 9 + 10: 8/9 August – Snetterton, Norfolk
Rounds 11 + 12: 22/23 August – Knockhill, Scotland
Rounds 13 + 14: 26/27 September – Silverstone (National), Northamptonshire
Rounds 15 + 16: 10/11 October – Brands Hatch (GP), Kent

Categories: Pro, ProAm1, ProAm2, Rookie (brand new for 2015)

Prize Money:

ProWinner – £15,000  plus fully-expensed drive in Porsche Supercup supported by Porsche Motorsport engineers

ProAm1 – Winner – £7,000 plus loan of Porsche 911 for a year and opportunity to spend 0.5 days at the Porsche Experience Centre, Silverstone with a Porsche Works driver

ProAm2 – Winner – £5,000 plus either loan of a Porsche 911 for a year or ‘money can’t buy’ opportunity to participate in a one day ‘Masterclass’ with a Porsche LMP1 driver at Silverstone

Rookie – Winner – £50,000                   2nd – £20,000                   3rd – £10,000

Josh Webster came out the 2014 season on top. Image Credit: total911.com

Josh Webster came out the 2014 season on top. Image Credit: total911.com

The revised 2015 format has attracted a raft of new teams that are interested in taking up the Porsche challenge. Some of these new teams include Credit4Cars which will enter multiple cars led by Iain Dockerill and the highly experience G-Cat team (who have previously competed in various sports car and historic championships) who will provide cars for Peter and Shamus Jennings. This new wave of entrants comes at what I believe is a vital time for the championship.

When the championship first started back in 2003, there were always packed grids and high-speed racing from first down to last. Some of my fondest memories include wheel to wheel racing between Richard Westbrook and Tim Harvey, while Maxi Jazz proved there was more to him than just music fighting it out in the midfield. However, my experiences in 2014 were somewhat less exciting. The central issue I believe was the severe lack of cars on the grid across the year. Technically speaking there were a total of 28 entries, although little over 9 actually competed in more than half the races in the season. On top of that, there felt like that were almost as many classes as there were cars, so there was no real competition. In many cases, after only a few laps the field had spread out to the point where races became processional and somewhat lackluster. I have always been a fan of multi-class racing such as that of the World Endurance Championship or even the classic BTCC of the 80s. It began to feel as if the Porsche Carrera Cup was nothing more than a filler to kill time before the BTCC. This is meant to be the premier single make GT series of the UK; it should not feel like that.

Reading about the changes to the 2015 season and the resulting increase in entrants already has given me a brief glimmer of hope. With the ever increasing popularity returning to the BTCC, the television and race day audiences are growing, which will be nothing except attractive to potential teams. Not only that, 2015 sees a closer connection with the international Porsche Motorsport team, such as supporting the World Endurance Championship at Spa in May and the Porsche works drives for championship winners.

Ragnar Schulte, General Manager, at Porsche Cars GB, commented:

“I am pleased to welcome the new teams and drivers to the Porsche Carrera Cup GB for 2015, and also thank our continuing teams for their long-standing loyalty. Next season, a new chapter of Carrera Cup GB begins. In addition to our proud role in support of the exciting TOCA British Touring Car Championship programme, we also look forward to the season highlight of two races at the Spa-Francorchamps circuit in Belgium, on the same weekend our Porsche Motorsport colleagues will be participating in the World Endurance Championship around the iconic track.” 

Additionally, the new Rookie category allows younger drivers (between 17 and 24) to get behind the wheel of the monstrous rear-engined, 460 hp ‘Type 991’ Porsche 911 GT3 Cup car. As a starting point for a career in GT racing, there are not many other opportunities that match the caliber of this one. Although the full entry list will not be confirmed until the New Year, one of the definite new arrivals comes in the form of 2013 Renault Clio Cup Champion Josh Files, who races with the brand new team #RacingforHeroes; a team who are supporting our injured veterans through motorsport. Josh Webster will face a much tougher season in 2015, who will return to defend his 2014 title.

Josh Files will be heading the #RacingforHeroes entry for 2015. Image Credit: #RacingforHeroes

Josh Files will be heading the #RacingforHeroes entry for 2015. Image Credit: #RacingforHeroes

The increased grid for 2015 should inject some fresh new energy back into the Porsche Carrera Cup GB, although I hope the increased number of race categories does not result in less competition between drivers. Perhaps the future could see a reduction in categories to simply Pro and Rookie, to truly make the most of these amazing cars.

The TOCA package has become the best race series across Europe with top class drivers competing at the highest standard. The new look 2015 Porsche Carrera Cup GB should do nothing but emphasise this quality. After a slightly disappointing 2014, it is time for the Porsche Cup to return to form. Home grown talent competing alongside international names such as Gelzinis and Jimenez will make for a truly great year.

Now if only April would hurry along!

Follow me on Twitter for more motorsport news and views @lewisglynn69

Keep Driving People!

Peace and Love!

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RSPCA: Royal Society for the Protection of Cruelty to Automobiles

Christmas time is fast approaching; a time for family, a time for giving, a time for happiness. As we delve into the devilishly delicious dinner laid down before us, everything in the world feels perfect. But what about those who do not enjoy the same luxuries? As we enjoy the familiar warmth of Christmas time, let us not forget those that must face the bitter chill of winter. There are those who must suffer at the hands of their masters.

Their suffering is not just for Christmas. Their suffering cannot be ignored.

Let them not suffer in silence forever; it is time to give our cars the voice they deserve.

How can we let this suffering continue?

How can we let this suffering continue?

Just the other day, my friend sent me this very photo that sits sadly above these words. There are places that are safe for the cars of this world, but it would appear that Croydon (SW London) is not one of those places. The once majestic Lambourghini, adorned in angelic white has been horrifically besmirched. Her great and powerful legs cruelly ripped away from her body. The sightings of such beautiful creatures are rare in this part of the world, and yet here you look upon the lifeless shell that once roamed so free with so many horses.

This was never going to end well..

This was never going to end well..

The pain and suffering caused to the ever endangered Lamborghini species will forever be caused by the oppressive and destructive nature of the human race. In this case however it seems more down to some horrible disease most commonly known as stupidity. The blame can go one of two ways in this case; either the driver of the Lamborghini was travelling way too fast down an urban street or the car pulling out did not check properly that the road was clear before setting off.

Here is the video of the incident, make up your own mind on this one: Aventador Crash – Moment of Impact

Are You F***ing Nuts?? 

This next video really does make me fear for my own safety on the road. Jeremy Clarkson once presented the statement that some people may have started to mate with vegetables. Well, after watching this next clip you may well start to believe it. Brake checking someone is dangerous enough on a small town road, let alone on a dual carriageway where high speeds cause fatal incidents.

This total arsewipe decided it would be utterly hilarious to come to a complete stop on the road, just to piss off the driver behind. What happens next, horrifying. The worst part is, that poor blue Peugeot will probably never again feel the freedom of the open road. Let us not also forget both other vehicles involved. The lives of 3 machines forever ruined.

I will leave this here, while I go and change my underwear: Idiot Brake Checks and Causes Accident 

The Pain of Winter

All those innocent cars, gone. Image Credit: tikkaspikes.eu

All those innocent cars, gone. Image Credit: tikkaspikes.eu

Winter is a dangerous time for the automobiles we cherish. Their owners suddenly begin to believe that they have become Colin McRae and that any road surface and any weather condition is no match for their superior driving skillz. And yes, the z is intentional.

Of course it is possible to drive in treacherous conditions such as snow, ice and decreased visibility. The problem is that one wrong move will not only cost you your dignity, but also your insurance bonus and maybe even your life. And think of the cars, all they are trying to do is serve their owners and do the best job they can.

The Ultimate Neglect

A sad, painful and lonely end to a once great life

A sad, painful and lonely end to a once great life

So please, if you can this Christmas, spare a thought for our faithful cars. No presents for the hard working. No warmth embrace of the relatives by the fire.

Without them, what would you do?

They need our love, they need our care.

But please remember, do not take them for granted. Let’s fight the oppression of the idiot, of the LAD trying to show off and the downright brainless.

Join the fight on Twitter @lewisglynn69

Have a good Christmas everyone, and please drive safe!

Peace and Love!

 

 

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