I’d never had breakdown insurance in 40 years until last year when I was distracted at the pump and put petrol in my diesel car. I was only a few miles from home, a mate towed me back and there were no obvious after effects but with modern pumps it seems problems can take a while to appear so insurance seemed a good idea.

I’d never had it so hadn’t a clue about terms, options, anything. The main thing I discovered was read the small print carefully. A lot of policies would take you home or where you were going, at their option, and a few more would only take you to your original destination. Some would take you to a garage of their choice for repairs to be carried out, at your expense obviously. None of those were any good for me as a new diesel pump for my car, fitted, is the thick end of £3,000 which is more than the car’s worth. At home, I’ve got a chance of getting and fitting a secondhand one, so the last thing I want is the car taking further away.

In short, the one that gave me the choices, rather than them, and the best price was Autonational. I’d never heard of them but as that applies to most of the ones I found that doesn’t mean much.

Speaking of verbose, there was a (US) guy on the telly last night who said “I have that capability in this life”.

What’s wrong with “I can do that”?

W4050 the prototype Mosquito.
To be fair I didn’t realise until years later it was the prototype. For a while it was stashed in bits in a blister hangar at Panshanger in the 50’s after the custodian was told to burn it. He hid it in various de Havilland properties until Walter Goldsmith wanted something to commemorate Salisbury Hall’s place in history.

I’ve never had any advanced driver training but it’s surprising how much you can pick up sitting behind a police class 1 driver for 17 or 18 years.

I recall being taught mirror, signal, manouvre. It seems now that mirrors are a waste of time as nobody uses them and on the odd occasion somebody indicates their finger catches the stalk as they start the turn. That’s apart from BMWs, which don’t have indicators.

For 40-odd years I’ve worked on the premise that 95% of drivers are complete morons and the other 5% are homicidal maniacs. It’s unfair on the small percentage of good drivers but it means I’m rarely surprised.

I first saw it at Syon Park (?) in the late 70s and thought it was absolutely magnificent. I last saw it at Gaydon last year and I still think it looks the dog’s danglies.
Brief history in the link I posted earlier.

I think the Cobra being tested on the M1 was singular rather than production as the cars were generally shipped to the States for engines and transmission to be fitted.

Wiki says that wasn’t the reason for the limit anyway, although it may have reinforced an existing plan. Another rumour about the limit was when the Howmet gas turbine car was due at Brands with no transporter available so it hurtled down the A20 at extreme velocity.

Nearly right with the ‘got at’ E-type but this is the most beautiful car ever built:

http://www.jaguarheritage.org/JaguarHeritage_VehicleCollection_008.aspx

Never liked Porsches…

I’d forgotten the one on the gate at Coltishall. It must be another very early on my list as I remember aged 10 or 11 asking at the guardhouse if I could take a photo.
About 10 years later when the BBMF were stationed at Coltishall I staggered woozily off a holiday cruiser on the Norfolk Broads and the sound of a pair of Merlins was even recognised through a hangover as a Spitfire and Hurricane flew over.

I’m not sure how you can pack acres of countryside but it was. I managed to park somewhere reasonably close (I don’t do walking) and sat on the eastern bank quite close to the dam. Pretty spectacular…