articles & news
Websites - If you like this website and would
like one designed for your needs then give me a call - my Proactive
Multimedia Concepts company is responsible for the design and commissioning
of Brooklands280.com. Email or call for a quote.
Valuations - what is
your 280 worth? for Selling and Agreed Insurance Valuations
- click here
(Updated 22nd October 2011)
Oil Crisis - 2012
There can be little doubt now that the Iran vs The West oil
tit for tat embargoes
will dramatically affect our once taken for granted motoring. The
terms Social Domestic and Pleasure
are used by Insurance companies to categorise the use of our vehicles
before taking the risk to insure.
Very soon those terms are
more likely to mean- 'Essential Travel Only'
The reason I say this is due to the global tensions which Iran will
cause. It's a juggernaut without brakes and spoiling for the ultimate
fight. Even though OPEC have implied they will make good the shortfall
in Irans output, you can forget it. The price per barrel is always
shooting up on the strength of the situation. If promises to maintain
flows of crude were being kept the price of oil would not soar.
Yes, I know
that Iran only supplies about 3% of the UKs needs. It's not the amount
that matters - it's the domino or snowball effect.
It seems that ever year, just prior to the Spring time or Summer there
is a 'man-made' crisis to ensure that people who trade in crude make
massive profits from the despair of others. The coming one will be
the biggest known even against the 1973 crisis.
People say that classic car sites didn't ought
to get 'political'. Don't care.
You can ignore this ongoing threat or plan for it.
The oil embargo is the least of our concerns actually.
If petrol goes to £2.00 a litre this summer
that'll not be the worst part. 2011 may be the 'good old days'.
No, the worst part will follow the first strike
to end Irans nuclear programme. I cannot even begin to imagine the
effect on fuel prices or supply then. Not if, when.
So why publish this? Well, just to say as I've
hinted at before - enjoy your motoring and classic cars whilst you
can. You can keep them under covers and store them for ages if you
like. The truth is unless you begin to own or enjoy your classic Ford
now - who knows whether you will be able to at all.....................
This article will go to the Articles
and News page in a couple of days. If you feel like popping
me a line or two with your thoughts I'll gladly reply or even publish
them with your permission. I'm not starting a blog as such.
I do hope that this domesday scenario won't happen.
However, reality check in order.
DVD to commemorate the Capri 280.
This is a unique and exclusive
look at the official Ford Press day
photographs taken on the last few days of production of the Capri
280 at the Cologne plant Germany in December 1986.
All pictures have been produced
as a moving 'photo-montage' (rostrum style) presentation, together
with other images of the Capri 280.
The DVD is professionally
narrated throughout and is approved by Ford UK. No other person
is auhorised to produce this informative DVD. To date the use of the
Ford Press Day pictures has been witheld, so this is truly an opportunity
to view the 60 plus official Ford photo's.
CLICK IMAGE FOR HOW TO ORDER YOUR DVD
It lasts about 15 minutes
and shows the Capri 280 being assembled and finally the last one off
the assembly line. Plus lots of full colour pictures of Capri 280's
that have been re-finished over the past decade or so.
As the very last Capri 280
numerically was not the very last one off the assembly line it's possible,
just possible that your very own 280 is the one being assembled in
these photographs!!
This DVD will be offered for
sale either via this site, or at the Capri Power event at Malvern
on 31st July.
The price is a nominal £8
which includes postage - bargain!!
Ford Motor Company has stipulated
that only a set amount of DVDs may be distributed and only Capri owners
should be the customers.
Once they're gone, they're
gone.
NB - there is no video footage
of moving cars - this is an historic look at the Press Day photo's
but produced in such a way as to imitate movement with style, music
and narration.
How to obtain a DVD - just Send
Dr Brooklands an email via this site to order your DVD, or catch up
with us at Gaydon and Malvern. I'll make sure you don't miss us at
the shows. I will see how they go and maybe advertise the DVD on selected
Capri websites in the UK and maybe Europe. This is mainly of interest
to Capri 280 owners but as it was the last of the 1.8 million Capri's
to be built the DVD is offered to all Capri owners.
If you are getting fed
up with articles and news about this car hating government then please
send me some Capri 280 articles - I'll gladly use them where possible
- it will save my grumpy fingers from getting worn out!!
Seems I was right last
year.
The Tories said they were
considering a new 'Fair fuel' tax (don't laugh yet). They now say
they will do it.
What it means is - instead of the crippling Tory Fuel Escaltor tax
which makes us pay upwards of
70% in tax on every litre of fuel, what the nice people in Westminster
will do for us is this....
The new 'fair' taxation system will allow fuel tax to drop when oil
prices go up, and fuel taxes to
raise when oil prices drop. (anyone seen the obvious yet?) It means
that fuel will NEVER, ever come down in price again,
not even if oil was given away free. The Government will just raise
the fuel-escalator tax to compensate. It's a see-saw
effect that basically says, 'Heads we win - Tails you lose'. At least
at present we see the price of petrol come down on
those rare days when the retailers remember oil prices dropped. If
this new system comes in - forget it - the price will
always be high. Judging by the total lack of interest in this from
the voting motoring public I guess I'm the only one who
feels this way.
UPDATE-
11th January 2011.
An American
pipeline accident is likely to push petrol up to ver £6 a gallon.
Remember when you
said 'If petrol ever gets to a pound a gallon I'll sell the car?"
It's only just beginning, now you know
why Cameron and Co want to get a Stabilser tax in place as soon as
poss - whilst petrol is over £6 a gallon and soon pushing £7
a gallon. To artificially maintain a sky high cost of petrol which
will never ever come down again.
A French guy I know is staggered
as to why the British take everything lying down. Not a whimper, not
a protest, just a tut tut here and there. We act like we've all been
anaesthetized.......
It makes you think.....
As we draw nearer to the decades of
austerity starting in January 2011, I did a quick check on what has
happened to the cost of motoring in the UK over the past 10 years.
Mainly the costs of fuel. It was eye opening to note that in December
2000 the price of petrol at the pump was 75.6p
per litre ( those of us who can recall when petrol was priced
per gallon will know that the litre pricing was done to mask the true
cost of increases - we were never supposed to do the mental arithmetic
of multiplying every increase by 4.56 to get the true cost).
Anyway, petrol stayed in the 70-76p bracket for 5 years, then in 2007
it rose to 103p p/litre. By December
2010 the price of unleaded is now at least 122p
/litre. That's a rise of 61% in
ten years. Those rises also didn't include the fuel escalator that
the Tories imposed ( because clearly we were not paying enough for
our fuel - even though the most expensive in Europe!). Now that the
Tories/LibConDemServatives are in - guess what? The fuel escalator
makes a heroic return, plus the oil increases and yes VAT, making
our petrol the most expensive anywhere in the civilised world. The
US citizens are balking at paying $2 per gallon! - I wish.
OK why do I mention this? Well, I am amazed we all
accept this without the slightest notion as to how we combat it. We
are well and truly ripped-off, they know it, we know and they know
we do nothing but pay up.
The £10
a gallon price of petrol can't be far off. The rises are not
a straight line graph, but will exponentially rise (like energy prices)
without control and without a care. If petrol only rises by
the same 61% over the next 10 years it will mean £8.90 per gallon.
Never thought you'd read that eh?
So, include the fuel escalator and
oil and VAT, whatever, and £10 a gallon is knocking on the door.
Enjoy motoring while you can. There
has never been a better time to enjoy a classic car, because, as we've
seen it only get more and more expensive each successive year. There
is no reason for the extortionate pricing other than they know we'll
pay. That's how the market works - you price according to what the
customer will pay. When they stop paying you drop prices like mad.
As always I am happy to meet your Classic Ford motoring needs for
2011 onwards. It's not all doom and gloom, but neither is it going
to get better.
Have a great Christmas everyone. Remember
the good old days and the true meaning of this Christmas season, and
I don't mean stuffing yourself with turkey and flashing the plastic
in John Lewis and Debenhams either!
Always here at the end of a phone for your Capri 280 motoring needs
- Ho Ho Ho.............
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
November
2010 - Recently had an email from a guy enquiring about one of my
280's. I gave him the prices and his reply sort of took me by surprise.
He said he couldn't
possibly bring himself to pay 'more than
the car cost originally'.
Now I didn't know exactly how to explain to him that most if not all
classic cars are worth anything from twice to three times what they
were originally, and even up to 20 or 30 times! There's E Type Jags
for sale in Newark for £100,000. TR5's for £25,000 etc.
When you think a Capri 280 was listed at 11,999 - and now 24 years
later are selling for prices in the region of 15-17k that's really
quite low considering the awsome nature of the car - full leather,
V6 motor, special paint, LSD axle, low profile tyres and a place in
motoring history. Each year we lose more of them, thus making them
more attractive and rarer than ever.
I suppose the right answer would have been - ' I think classic
cars are maybe not for you..............'
This is why you cannot believe a single
word or even a syllable that emanates from
the lips of a politician
29th June 2009. Government
abandons national road pricing scheme
"Not the time
to be putting that before the British people," says transport
secretary
24th July 2009.
MPs call for drivers to take part in 'voluntary' road pricing scheme.
They couldn't even
conceal this lie for more than 3 weeks.
The last time I looked I WAS being road priced. Every time I drive
I pay 70% tax on my fuel. The
more I drive the more tax I pay. That's road pricing isn't it? Or
are we drivers now expected to be
at the forefront of the 'War on Recovery from the Reckless Use of
Public Money' yet again?
Don't you just feel that the Cash Cow Piggy Bank of British motorists
will be squarely in the cross-hairs of those seedy
Govt ministers who use the Motoring Ready Reckoner to balance MPs
coffers everytime they are short, which of course, is
always.
It's
that time again when warnings are needed.
Beware
fake Capri 280's
If you ever see a Capri advertised anywhere as a 280
or Brooklands always ask the following questions:-
1. When was it registered? - all 280's were completed
Dec 1986 and none were regstered before 1987.
2. What is the VIN or at least the last 7 digits?
They must begin 'GG' and have 5 numbers after that. If not, - not
Brookie.
3. The colour code on the VIN plate must state T7.
This is a pretty sure way to find out who is genuine
and who is conning you.
If you know of anyone contemplating a purchase that
you think is iffy - point them to this site it'll save them thousands
and maybe a Civil Action.
Not only fake Capri
280's but fake wheels and parts are auctioned from
time to time.
If you see wheels and tyres or indeed any part that advertised as
from a Capri 280 or Brooklands - before you buy check out whether
there's a Ford Motorsport stamp on the wheel or Ford logo on the part.
I have pictures of just about all parts that are worth bothering with
for the 280 - it will save you loads of mis-spent cash. For example,
the 15 inch wheel on a Capri 280 will look like this:-
 
If it doesn't look like this then chances are it's a fake.
Also the tyre fitted will be a Pirelli P7 195x50-15 that looks like
this:-
Just send me an email if in doubt and
I'll try to help.
BTW - it's a criminal
offence to advertise something as genuine which you know is not. Ignorance
is not much of a defence, especially if someone has told you the part
is fake in advance.
At
last an answer to the perennial question that people keep asking me!
"How
many Brookies are there left?"
So what is the answer?
I have made enquiries
with the only place that has up to date records of such things (correct
at 16th June 2009)
Capri
280's taxed at end of December 2008 = 234
Capri
280's currently SORN = 229
So
there we have it 463 Capri 280's known
to the DVLA
Unregistered
= I only know of 3 for certain - can't possibly tell you where they
are though...........
So, I hope that settles
the matter for most of us?
Now, all I have to do is find all these
owners and ensure they are providing sufficient TLC to these rare
beauties!
You heard it here first - at the Doctors
Surgery.
(This list won't
include those 280's abroad inc Ireland)
280's that are
scrapped, dead or Cat C and D Ins write-offs are not known.
There are one
or two in New Zealand and Oz - if you know of any in Europe give me
a shout.
Cars only have
to have SORN submitted after 1989 I think - so there's a good possibility
that some 280's will be off the road and unknown to DVLA.
I think it's fair
to say that around 50% of all 280's are alive today.
New Government scheme - Scrappage
How it works is this. Whatever
vehicle you currently own NuLabour will give you a brand
new vehicle in it's place. There's only one snag.....................
Yes, I'm afraid under the new
Speed Limit changes you'll have to drive a Hearse. Two reasons
1. It's the only vehicle designed
to crawl along the highways at 20mph or less;
2. It will be a fitting tribute
the the death of motoring as we know it and the timely passing
of
NuLabour.
Be afraid,
be very afraid............
You won't realise
what's happening til it's too late - this hair-brained scheme
will be as effective as the last targets they set 11 years
ago and in the process devastate our wonderful roadways and
travelling in general.
Huh?
why this picture? Read below.........
European Traffic Police
Network (TISPOL). Non elected bureau in EU. April 2009.
Well I did warn you. The New World Order,
NuLabours masters, in Europe have sent a decree to British
Police to nail as many of us as possible this week. Please
don't be shocked or surprised at this speed feeding frenzy
of trying to appease our masters in Europe.
Even though Labour will be just a distant
memory by the time our roads have been decimated, the damage
will have been done and no Tory Govt will reverse this ludicrous
'One size fits all policy'. Look at USA in 1973. They introduced
the 55mph limit as a measure to reduce oil consumption when
the Oil Crisis began. Funny how 36 years later they still
have the limit that was never intended for Road Safety even
thought the pressure groups say it was and claim it as their
own idea.
Labour has caved and under the direction of
the ex-Fireman Jim Fitzpatrick, virtually every speed limit
especially on urban and countryside roads (ergo, every road
in Britain) will have reduced limits.
The failed policy in 1997 to reduce 50% RTA
for children and 40% adult RTAs failed abysmally because they
threw everything at Speed, which it turns out is not the major
cause of RTAs and fatalities. Not deterred by the facts they
cower from EU directives and try to ruin even further our
liberties and freedoms by over constraint, over regulation
and suppressive controls. All in the name of safety you understand.
First they weren't going to mess with speed
limits (Tony Blair 1998)
Then they start to rake in millions a year
with Scameras so they meddled with speed limits to lower them
where revenues were falling, or should I say speeding was
lowered (but wasn't that the aim?)
Anyway, last count the rake in was £100m
per year.
Not content with putting a blanket 50mph across
the nations free and flowing A roads, they are starting to
lay plans for 20mph on the built up areas, or residential
areas as they call them. Well apart from Motorways and some
rural dual carriageways nearly every road passes through a
'residential area'.
The ex Fire Officer, who must now be an expert
on Road Safety (obviously, or else he wouldn't have such a
high profile job eh?) and is the Transport Minister, now thinks
that the answer to all pedestrian related RTAs is to slow
vehicles to 20mph or less.
Now, call me cynical but after driving for
39 years, being a Police Advanced Grade 1 driver, an ex Road
Safety Officer and Traffic Cop I think, yes I think, that
pedestrian accidents in almost 100% of cases are caused by
people walking or running in the carriageway.
If that is the case, and cars are not travelling
the pavements and footways, then the problem is people
on the roads not cars on the pavement.
If people on the highway is the problem, then
apart from banning cars altogether (and I'm not sure that
isn't NuLabs ultimate plan) why for pity sake is the solution
being aimed at the driver and not the root cause i.e. the
Pedestrian?
Could it be that the technology to crush the
motorist and get penalties is already here and able to be
(mis) used at the drop of a hat? Or could it be that enforcing
Jay Walking by errant pedestrians is just too time consuming
and non cost effective i.e. can't issue as many penalty tickets?
Either way the upshot is this. National speed
limits on perfectly fine roads down to 50mph, built up areas
down to 20mph, drivers will get so used to a walking speed
kind of driving that 50 mph will seem like a trip to a NASCAR
circuit, thus the psychological effect will make crawling
and jerking along at less than 20mph seem less awful when
we can really open the motor up to 49mph and even consider
2nd or 3rd gear. Whoopdeedoo!
Drivers behave best when they are travelling
at appropriate speeds for the road and their vehicle. Fact.
Cars have never been safer regarding brakes, visibility and
impact crumple zones. Fact. Drivers get justifiably schizoid
when treated like idiots and serial killers due to either
the actions of a few, or worse the actions of pedestrians
and cyclists who breach all codes of safety and common sense
but are never the target of Gordon's Storm Troopers.
Answer?
If you want to prevent pedestrian casualties
on our drivers roads, then target the cause - i.e. the pedestrian.
Apply the same draconian and relentless policy that is applied
to the driver - problem solved and no needless restrictions
on the driver, again..........
Of course it's impossible to expect targeted
action by this conglomerate of misfits - none of them are
'Fit for Purpose'.
Oh and what happens when the RTA rate increases
as it surely will? 10mph, 5mph, 0mph? It's the only logical
solution when a crass and sledge hammer policy is aimed NOT
at the cause of the problem.
It gets worse - Wait til those little 'lectric,
silent killers are silently whirring along the roads causing
chaos, batteries going flat on bends corners and crossings
and blithely running over people who's last words were, 'I
never heard it coming officer............. gasp, splutter'
(This assumes that an Officer would actually attend such an
event in the future). Not to mention the sting in the tail
- that is the cost of your leccy bill, the cost to the carbon
output of the country by massive drains on the national grid
(see they've even got me talking about carbon now!) And best
of all when they've sucked you all in to the leccy car gimmick
- watch those bills and incentives go up and disappear respectively.
Like they did with the diesel revolution and like LPG is going.
Bottom line. Drivers need appropriate speed
limits. Higher on most roads not lower. Reduced outside schools,
hospitals and high pedestrian activity maybe.
50mph is bad enough but 20mph will drive everyone
nuts but the Govt stats will 'prove' beyond doubt that they
saved something from happening somewhere on the road network.
The damage to your engine at low speeds is
a known fact, longer to warm up, neat fuel washing the bores,
exiting through the exhaust and wrecking your Catalytic converters
and pushing more emissions out............. hey Gordo, good
plan mate.
Don't believe me? Have a try driving at 20mph
or less through every part of your built up area, housing
estate, in fact anywhere that is not a dual carriageway -
see the chaos it causes, see how your car reacts and see what
happens to fuel consumption, engine wear and emissions - not
to mention the 'anger' it will introduce to you and other
drivers.
Modern vehicles and our roads have never been
better or safer. Yet in 2009 we are creating un-natural road
hazards called 'Speed moderators' (Traffic Calming - yeah
right, how calm do you feel negotiating the minefield of road
humps? I drive to the opposite side of the road to avoid them
as my daily driver is too low for these monstrous car killers)
[sorry where were we?].... such as huge lumps of rubber, plastic
or tarmac which wreck tyres, suspension and nerves, thus ruining
the highway. Our progress is impeded more by lower limits,
higher penalties and the driver is seen as the source of endless
punishment and revenue.
21st Century progress? Slower, slower, stop.
We've advanced to a state of crawl. The average speed through
London 120 years ago was 10mph, it's now 8mph.
Targeting the worst offender has been an option
always open to use. But no, NuLab Stasi consider a blanket
punishment on EVERY driver from the outset is much better
than catching an offender and punishing him/her when necessary.
This will only get worse and worse because
not only do they impose wrongly targeted scam/schemes - they
never admit they're wrong and refuse to reverse banal restrictions.
It takes Local Auth Chief Execs to dump funding Scameras 'as
they are no use in Road Safety' (Swindon).
Expect nothing to change for the better -
wrong people in wrong jobs metering out wrong policies in
the wrong direction.
(This article will go to News and Articles
page in a few days, or as soon as the next idiot in Government
pops his/her head up with another winner!)
ps don't you wish the Govt had technology
to catch poor, inattentive, dangerous, reckless, inconsiderate
drivers who really cause RTA's?
Yeah, don't hold your breath. That option
is at the bottom of the Govt basket marked 'Too Hard'.
Ed. I make no apologies
for devoting major space on my website to this subject - I
seem to be saying what a lot of other s are thinking.
I value travelling freedoms
and proper safety. There's not a single policy I've witnessed
in recent times that gives me any hope for better days
ahead. We've lived through the good days of motoring and you
can be sure that NuLabour will divest you of the very last
drop of enjoyment and freedom whilst at the same time extracting
revenue from you for every inch you drive, infringe crazy
rules and dare to stop.
What is sad is that you and I will just roll
over and let them do it. Government of the people,
by the people, for the people? In your dreams...................
"Nanny knows best, there, there".
Dictatorship ethos: 'Constraint, Restriction,
Regulation, Suppression and Penalty' sound familiar
or did you only just move to StalagGB?
Who was it that
said 'when democracy finally fails dictatorship is the only
logical step'?
I'm speechless (almost) ...........................
I asked why this picture? Well, Gordon Brown commented recently
after the death of David Cameron's son that 'Every life
is important', and of course he's right. Now the hypocrisy.
Since NuLabour have been in office, sorry,
power (they like that word) Gordon Brown has presided over
the slaughter of, wait for it, 1,992,900
young babies in their mothers wombs in the UK.
So when you hear Gordo bleating on about every
life important, and 'we must stop deaths on our roads' forget
it, he doesn't lose a wink of sleep knowing that 'on his watch'
the UK has 'lawfully' butchered more children than were destroyed
in the Holocaust.
Plain fact is this - the UK is broke, the
Govt has sold us down the river, they need more funds and
you can't get that by putting a Cash Camera in the abortion
clinics, however you can get 100's of millions from drivers.
The morality is clear. There is no morality.
April
fuel? you'll wish it was a joke
It's no joke - yet again this Band on the
Run Government has gone against the flow, dismissing the voters
wishes and they've hiked up motor fuel duty again.
If petrol was given away at the pumps we will
still have to pay nearly 80p per litre to the Government light
fingered brigade. Still, we're British (not European) and
in 2009 we lie down and accept everything this bunch hurl
at us.
They don't have to do it, they want to do
it, and, as we know, they can do anything they like with your
money. I'm guessing some hefty 'expenses' are due in Parliamentary
circles and some April Fools have to pay for it. Yup, you
and me. Fools we are.........
Just me?
I'm afraid they're at it again, only worse
this time. This unbelievable Government is throwing yet another
huge blanket at a problem that is caused by a tiny percent
of bad drivers. I refer of course to the National
Speed Limit being reduced from 60mph, to 50mph.
What will this achieve? Well, it is bound
to increase RTA's. Most accidents are caused by poor, aggressive
or inattentive drivers. They are not caused by speeding drivers
per se. Not even this ludicrous Government and it's pitiful
array of Transport Ministers will argue that point. (see my
Articles and News page)
As an Ex Traffic Cop and Road Safety Officer
and Traffic Management Consultant, I can safely say that trying
to reduce still further, inappropriately low speed limits
will make the situation worse. Drivers caught in and endlessly
winding mobile traffic jam by someone doing 40-44mph along
rural roads will be frustrated when they see open roads reduced
to a crawl. Result? Normally courteous and conservative drivers
will now seek out the slightest passing opportunity and therefore
increase risk of conflict. Overtaking will be seen as Anti-social.
Plus, we all know that over-taking on double
white lines, on bends, approaching cross roads, junctions
etc are the real causes of serious RTA's - including the drugged
and drunken drivers.
In 1981,82 and 83 when I was Road Safety Officer
there were between 3,100 and 3,400 deaths on the roads of
Britain each year - nothing the Government did reduced that
figure. Since we now have much better cars, clearer all-round
vision, ABS brakes, better tyres and suspension, coupled with
road-humps, more road signs, traffic lights and more Speed
Cameras than you can count - what is the result? The same
number of deaths - perhaps even more so.
Everything the Govt. does to slow us down
has a net effect of more congestion, more frustration, even
more public alienation (if that ere possible given this bunch!)
The real fact is Speed alone is no problem. Every RTA involves
speed i.e. if you travel faster than 0mph you are travelling
at speed.
Nu Labour have made Speed a swear word. In
my experience, poor, aggressive and dangerous driving is the
problem. However there is no revenue raising technology to
detect that is there? Ah hem, do we smell a rat here?
Tony BLiar said in 1999 that Labour would
"not interfere with the current speed limits as they
were appropriate" - OK stop laughing will you.
There is a serious case for raising limits
on dual carriageways and Motorways. Even raising it on rural
roads in a lot of areas.
The latest ruse is to achieve the stealth
technology SPECCS etc, to get the infrastructure in place
to monitor and charge you for every mile you drive. All average
speed cameras have ANPR technology that can ID your car and
Registered Keeper. Always look for the Trojan Horse - nothing
is what it seems.
They say it's for Road Safety but as we all
know even with 6000 fixed speed cameras out there, fatal RTAs
keep occurring - thus proof that Speed Does Not Kill - INAPPROPRIATE
Speed and bad driving kills.
Quite why the British drivers, the voting
public allow these non-driving, hidden agenda, stealth taxation
people to keep crushing the spirit of the motorists in the
UK I will never understand.
In 5 years time I'll update this blog (which
will be archived on my Articles and News page shortly) and
I can be pretty confident that the net effect of NuLabours
(and probably the copycat Tories if they go along with this
scam) ridiculous draconian policy on speed, will be - yup
more drivers disqualified, more RTAs bourne out of frustration
and the casualty figures will be the same or worse.
Doomsday merchant? Me? No not a bit. I have
seen what goes on behind closed doors.
Faceless wonders in Europe throw down a dictat
to the puppy dog UK about RTA figures. NuLabour sit up and
beg - and create unachievable targets to please the un elected
'hero's' in Brussels. They did this in 1997 when they set
out to reduce Child fatalities by 50% and Adult fatalities
by 40% - both targets missed completely because they used
a big Hammer called the Speed Camera and every nail they hit
just picked out the errant, and day to day drivers and hardly
reduced a casualty.
The Government approach to Road Safety is
like the Government approach to Airport Security - 'don't
profile and target the real perpetrators and hit them hard,
just blanket frisk everyone and lasergun everything that moves.'
For 30 years I saw how targetting crooks and
rogue drivers really worked.
For the last 12 years I've seen how a One
Size Fits All approach by NuLabour has caused grief,
alienation, frustration amongst the driving public. Also it
has ruined the one last bastion of freedom in this nation
the freedom to take a drive as a past-time and for Social,
Domestic and Pleasure purposes. Remember those
quaint words? SD&P. I am so surprised that NuLabour hasn't
officially replaced those words with Anti-Social,
UnDesirable and Pleasureless driving.
Well they've done that in all but name anyhow.
You see some of us don't NEED a car to get
back and for to work - some of us enjoy a trip out and we
drive appropriately. All we can look forward to now, despite
increased technology - better roads etc is a much lower average
speed, increase in stress levels and more man made obstructions
on our journey. So much for progress.
Motto - "if you cannot set realistic
targets - just keep throwing a bigger and heavier blanket
over the situation until you get a result". Nu Labour
21st Century.
Ed's note: Yes I'm afraid
I belong to the most persecuted and discriminated against
group in Britain. White, male, married, Small Business owning,
Christian believing, heterosexual, tax-paying motorist, er,
with savings................
In many years of Internet useage I've never, ever had such
cause to give vent to spleen as I have since 1997 - go figure.
Just popping out in the old TwinTurbo for a blatt - Oh no,
Carbon Footprint, global warming, climate change, coast erosion,
depletion of the natterjack toad......................
ps just read about the Traffic Cop in Merseyside who stopped
a driver last week for, wait for it, 'Laughing
too much at the wheel'. The driver was on handsfree
phone and laughing at a friends conversation - I did tell
you there would be an offence of Grinning with Intent didn't
I? Trouble is I was joking. Beam Me Up!
pps - before anyone rushes to judgment over this editorial
- after 15 years of Traffic Patrol I have probably dealt with
more RTAs and fatalities than most people visiting my website
- so I do know what I'm talking about and I know the real
causes of collisions.
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Competition
- no prizes (not in
this game!)
Ever wondered why you, the British
driver feel as if the motorist is the most hated form of UK citizen?
Ever wonder why you are penalised at every turn?
Ever stop to think why only 5% of the
billions you pay each year in road taxes goes back to road improvements?
Did it occur to you that the answer lies in the common denominator
below:-
What do all these people have in common?
    
Well? Clue - did you ever see one of these driving
a car? No? OK getting warm.
At least 4 of these never bothered to learn to the
basic rudiments of driving let alone take a test, never pulled up
at a fuel pump to mutter the words, 'Look at the price of petrol'
- so couldn't relate to you or me in any conversation about the cost
of motoring, let alone say 'We know how the motorists feel'............
Everyone of these either can't drive, couldn't drive,
won't drive - and ALL are/were involved in Transport Policies for
the UK motorist at some point in their careers. All either hate cars,
drivers (except their money) and none have done anything to ease the
relentless attack on our motoring costs. Byers, Dunwoody, Livingstone,
Brown, Ladyman and Cameron. Do you think it's a coincidence that each
time Transport Policy is under review there's a Car Hater at the helm?
Well, if you did, you don't now.
Until we get a real driver, who understands and even
enjoys motoring (instead of just dipping into motorists pockets) I'm
afraid we are going to be hung out to dry. Don't expect sympathy -
you are seen as a source of revenue. And in keeping with the car hating
theme we now have Geoff Hoon - the new Sec of State for Transport
- ushering in Road Pricing at break-neck speed (even though his predecessor
Ruth Kelly gave up the idea )
I only posted this to take your mind off the fact
that petrol just went up 9p a gallon despite the recession.
I will move this to my
Articles and News section within a few days - if 'they'
don't get me beforehand..................
Petrol will never decrease
in price under the Tories - not even if oil went down to $10 a barrel!!!
It's a 'see-saw' fuel
duty that says 'when oil is lower we'll put the fuel duty up -
and when oil is higher we'll drop the duty a tad. Either way you motoring
suckers will pay and pay dearly................
Tory answer to your high petrol bills
- announced 6th July by George Osborne - Tory shadow Chancellor
- "The plans, unveiled by shadow chancellor George Osborne yesterday,
would link fuel duty levels directly to oil prices – so as fuel
prices rise, duty decreases.
Osborne said if the ‘fair fuel stabiliser’
had been implemented in the last budget, duty would currently be 5p
lower. (Um, diesel would be £1.32 a litre
instead of £1.37 - Oh heck you are too generous me old mate
- what we want is that crippling duty reduced by about £25 p
a litre NOW)
“It’s a common sense plan to bring
stability to public finances and help the environment by making the
price of carbon less volatile,” he said.
Graeme Leach, chief economist and head of policy
at the Institude of Directors (IoD), indicated Osborne’s proposals
were unrealistic.
Now is it just me or is this con of gigantic
proportions? Look at it. As oil prices surge - the fuel duty slides
down. As oil drops the fuel duty soars back up. Now call me cynical
but either way we pay the same high prices with NO chance of petrol
ever getting lower priced again.
Logic says that if petrol is £2 a litre
and the price of oil goes up, then instead of the pump price going
to say, £2.25 per litre (yes I'm not kidding) - the duty level
would drop by perhaps a similar amount. Thus making the price of petrol
remain a ridiculous £2 per litre.
Using the same see-saw scale - if oil prices
dropped drastically then the fuel escalator would kick in and the
fuel duty would rise from about £1.25 per litre to say £1.50
a litre making the drop in oil invisible to the motorist. Taken a
step further if oil dropped to zero dollars a barrel - then instead
of petrol being about 60p per litre it would still be £2 because
the Tory fuel duty would rise to the opposite extent that oil dropped.
What I'm saying is it's a lose lose situation
for us because the Government will always counter balance oil / fuel
/ duty etc.
Hey Mr Osborne - thanks but er, no thanks.
We understand your DelBoy initiative and we laugh at it.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Capri 280's any point? Yes, believe it or not - people
are still wanting one, still contacting me and not letting the below
mentioned stuff scare them off completely. People are feeling the
pinch but still not letting the squeeze stop them from enjoying life
with a classic Ford.
My last sale was the G Reg 280 - sold to a hard working guy up north.
Decided that he wanted the car he always promised himself and he's
a happy bunny. A super car that can return 31-32 on a run in style
- can't be bad eh?
Read on and you will get depressed but once you are, have a strong
cup of coffee and then make sure they don't grind you into the ground!!
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
When your car tax goes up to £400 a year pretty soon,
bet you wish you had a pre-2001 car to drive eh? Still, at least you'll
sleep safe in the knowledge that this Govt will spend 9 million x
£400 wisely and 'save the world'. Yeah, Wolverines make good
house pets too............................. I mean surely Labour wouldn't
lift even more cash out of your pockets for dubious and spurious causes
would they?
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Latest - OIL June 2008 - is expected to hit $250
a barrel fairly soon - that will mean £2.30 per litre in the
UK. Never thought it could happen did you? Who would have said that
the past 2-3 years were 'the good old days'? Not me. But there's a
lot of players out there all fixing and manipulating markets. The
speculators have done their worst with the financial markets hence
the credit crunch - now they are gambling on oil futures hence there's
panic and increases even when there's no actual change in the supply
or demand.
It's fast approaching a time when to travel
will be a past time of the seriously rich and the rest of us will
have tin cans occupying our driveways and garages. It's a bit depressing
but that's about it.
There worst part I suppose is this - the crooks
in the treasury take 70% of every tanful of petrol as tax. They spend
or squander it away of many different things, mainly failed computer
systems, propping up excess management structures in organisations
and education establishments. Which means this. The British driver
is now using 20% less fuel due to crippling costs so the exchequer
is getting 20% less tax. Getting the picture? What will the Cash Guzzler
Darling do when his ATM (the motorist) is down on funds? Well you
work it out.
They want us supposedly to drive less, use
less oil / fuel etc. But when we do they get less tax to fund scandalous
schemes. Outcome? You guessed it. If we do what they want, and spend
less at the pumps coz we are being crushed, then they get less income
and will hit us again somewhere else. And once we get hit elsewhere,
it won't matter if oil reduces because the extra taxes will just stay.
Bit like the price of chips at the chip shop - spuds were in short
supply one year in the 80's - so up went a bag of chips from 30p to
85p. Spuds got plentiful later but chips stayed high. So it is with
this oil / fuel / tax on motoring.
Who will get us out of this? Labour? Tories?
The choice my friend is Hobsons. It's like being asked if you prefer
to be assaulted by Mike Tyson or Evander Holyfield - who you going
to choose?
Enjoy your car while you can - won't be long
that's for sure.
The £10 gallon is just round the corner and I recall when we
protested at 87p per litre - happy days.
HOW TO ESCAPE THE RECESSION
You can escape
the coming financial
crash and the economic disaster helped along by 'Prudence' Brown and
his bunch of £100 grand a year (without expenses and Gold Plated
pensions) cohorts.
Here's how:-
1. Don't buy food
2. Don't have a mortgage
3. Don't drive
4. Don't heat your water or your home
5. Don't fly
6. Don't use public transport - esp trains
There - saved you a fortune - no charge for
this advice.................. Oh yes, nearly forgot, whatever you
do, do NOT grow old in Britain.
OIL CRISIS
Yup it's a crisis. Crude hits $135 a barrel
May 2008. The 200 dollar barrel is not too far away. Britain is fast
becoming a 3rd world entitiy. Hardly any influence and bidding against
the new economies of China and India. We cannot sustain our use of
oil. Petrol prices will go through the roof and we will look back
on 2008 as a time of, er, cheap fuel prices.
Why keep mentioning this? Like I said dozens
of times before. Classic cars will be ornaments before too long -
read the headlines and the small columns. Our fabulous Capri's will
soon be thought of as unsocial and everyone will be expected to drive
an electric food mixer. Not because it saves the planet, but because
we just won't be able to afford petrol.
Answer? I actually do not know. All I can say
is - if you want a classic Ford the only time to buy and enjoy one
is now. Not tomorrow, not next week, but now. This is not doom and
gloom it's fact. The upside is your wallet will not be weighing you
down quite as much as in previous years.
Who is a buyer and who is a dreamer?
There are a number of good indicators as to whether you are a buyer
or a wishful thinker. Sometimes it helps to know. I have seen the
signs over the years. Here's a few pointers that will see which camp
you fall into:-
You know you'll never buy a Capri 280 when:-
(I have proved every one of these points except number 10)
1. You send emails only and never make a phone call to discuss
the car.
2. You say you'll come and see the car but never do.
3. You are only concerned with the price.
4. You don't spend many waking hours and sleeping hours thinking
about the car.
5. You consider also looking at Escorts, MGs and Audi's.
6. You think 100 miles is too far to travel to test drive.
7. You wait longer than a week to make your mind up.
8. You are thinking of importing to your country.
9. You consider it's a toss up between double glazing, a new
kitchen or a Capri.
10. You work for Northern Rock!
So how did you fair? If more than 2 of the above apply
to you - then you are not a buyer. There, just saved us both
a lot of time.
A Buyer on the other hand is one who:-
1. Has the budget to meet his/her dreams.
2. Is aged 40 plus
3. Businessman, usually.
4. Just had an insurance payout, shares cashed
in or can't stand Euro-shaped tin cans.
5. Always promised himself one of these for the
last 15 years.
6. Can't stop thinking about it.
7. Visits my website at least 7 times a week.
8. Has pictures of a 280 as screen saver or wall
paper
9. Just promised to take the family / wife on
a smashing holiday or get the new kitchen as well
10. Able to convince himself and the wife that
this is a form of investment. Well, he actually doesn't need
convincing...............
Ticked more than 3 of these? Sorry you're
hooked give us a call.
(If you think this is made up,
think again - the chap who bought my G Reg said he looked at
the list, ticked off more than 3 and rang me to say "I'm
hooked" and he bought the car)
Turbo Technics to re-release their legendary
F9, & F26 kits for the 2.8i - 280 Capri !!
Here's the deal:
Turbo Technics have said if they get 10 orders, with a 20%
deposit for each kit they will re-produce them. I'm not certain
of the pricing - but I did hear 'less than 3 grand' - better ring
Hamish or Sales at Turbo Technics.
This is the press release from Turbo Technics:-
"This kit is identical to the famous kits we produced in the
80's and 90's which when fitted to the new Capri's would make 200bhp.
Producing power at high speed is relatively easy, but the aim of the
development programme was to build an engine which would also produce
a high level of torque from very low speed. The key to achieving this
is the exhaust manifold and Turbo Technics design expertise has produced
a technically advanced pulse separation configuration, using a single
turbo. In conjunction with the carefully matched Garrett T3 turbocharger,
excellent low speed response is achieved, with minimal turbo lag.
The resulting engine not only gives exhilarating performance, but
does so in a totally fuss-free manner, with no perceptible transition
to "boost" conditions. Economy is virtually unaffected,
and an effective intercooler in conjunction with a carefully integrated
system ensures a very high degree of reliability, for which Turbo
Technics have established a trend-setting reputation.
The kit uses the standard compression ratio and runs with standard
transmission and consists of a T3 turbocharger, manifold, intercooler,
vacuum capsule, fuel enrichment air cone block, oil feed and return
pipes, cross pipe and a down pipe from the turbo as well as all the
pipe work and clips to plumb everything in. The only part not included
from the original kit is the complete exhaust system see fig13 in
drawings.
The Turbo system can be fitted in a few days by any competent DIYer
and does not need to be carried out by specialists. However, it is
important that the engine is in good mechanical condition before the
kit is installed, especially if it has covered high-mileage."
Engine Power Output.
Maximum power = 200BHP (149Kw) @ 5,500r/m
Maximum torque = 247 Lbf-Ft (320Nm) @ 3,800r/m
Typical Performance Figures
Capri 200BHP
0-60 ml/hr 6.5
0-100 ml/he 14.8
Max speed 143 ml/hr on the standard final drive
Your order will be taken with a 20% deposit. Please call Turbo Technics
sales department on 01604705050 for further information
Turbo Technics
2 Sketty Close
Brackmills
Northampton
NN4 7PL
United Kingdom
Tel: 01604 705050
Fax: 01604 769668
Ed: Dr B has owned 4 Turbo Technics Capri 280's and they are without
a doubt the most stunning drive ever! If only Ford had put this conversion
on as standard......... but then everyone would have one
wouldn't they?
Original diagrams:
 
 
Don't know quite how to arrange a Group Buy of at least 10
units but I guess if enough interest is shown they'll be swamped with
orders. Pass this on to all your Capri nutters out there.
Remember Norman Bates would have a kit - how is that for
a recommendation?
FUEL PRICES - MORE INFO TO DEPRESS YOU - This is the way
that the Government fleeces you every day.
Link
to Petrol Prices.com
The Last Capri 280 ever built
Did
you know - that the first Capri 280 ever built was stolen and never
recovered?
Did
you know that Ford Europe kept the last one made Reg Number D194 UVW
and it's in Gaydon plant today?
Did you know that the engine/chassis number of the last 280 ever made
has the unique number GG11896?
Did you know that the last Capri 280 ever to be registered is a G
REG and is featured on my website?
Did you know that the last 280 to physically roll off the assembly
line in Cologne is NOT considered to be the last one ever made.
It
is official that the last one ever made is final chassis number
GG11896.
Even
if you have the work ticket that is time and date stamped as the last
one off the assembly line - unless it is GG11896 it just ain't the
official last one.
Any
doubts? Call the Doctor!
Just thought I'd put this on in case anyone tries to offer you the
'last one ever built'.
There are still at least 3 Capri 280's in England that have not been
registered. I know the towns where they are but that's all I can say.
Imminent war in Middle East -
all indications are that a huge conflagration in the Middle East will
kick of fairly soon. This will have devastating effects on lives,
the economy and for all us petrol heads - the price and supply of
petrol, heating oils etc.
Only mentioning this as we often think we
are an Island and what goes on a couple of thousand miles away doesn't
really affect us.
I have numerous up to date links on the political
and military positioning in the M.E. if anyone wants the links.
Road Pricing and the Spy in your Car
click here
As predicted over 3 years ago on this site
- the government plans to give police access to all camera and private
individuals road journeys. That means exactly what we told you - as
soon as nationwide road pricing comes in every scrap of privacy goes
out the window and govt. agencies and departements, CSA, DWP, Soc
Services, Customs & Revenue, VAT, Specail Branch, MI5, MI6 etc
will all have potential to know exactly where you went, with whom,
what time, where you stopped and how fast you did it all!!. Good to
know 'they' care about you so much................... click
here
1. What happens when an executive gets fed up with
the Company Jag?? Click
here to find out
2. UPDATE May 2008: Who's got the only G Reg
then or should I say who's got it now?? click
here to find out 
3. Want to find the Build number of your
Capri 280? 
Just click on BUILD CALCULATOR in the menu above
- put in the 5 digits that appear after the letters GG in the engine
or chassis number - click 'Calculate' and there you are! This is the
only site in the world offering you this facility.
4. Ever heard of the 419-ers? No thought
not. They are the overseas scammers who target a lot of people selling
classic cars in the UK. In their extreme ignorance they think that
if you own a classic car you are desperate for cash and will therefore
fall prey to their infantile and zero IQ scams. Started by Nigerians
but any number of morons from other nations try it on. There's even
a website set up by folk to Bait the Scammers and cause them no end
of problems! What great sport if you have the time.
You will know their emails because they
refer to your advert in a sort of generalised fashion such as '
I am very interested in the car - please give me the firmest price
and I will get my agent to contact you very soonest' etc
etc.They have no idea about the car they don't care about your car.
It's a means to an end. They want you to give bank details - they
promise to send you a deposit - then when you've banked it they want
you to return the deposit on promise of the full amount. (they won't
even have seen the car or shown any true interest in it). When you
send back the deposit you find that their money was fraudulant and
you are out by thousands of pounds.
How do you deal with them? Simple. You
reply to their email without disclosing anything about yourself, your
car or your name. You ask for a UK tel number, a post code and their
full name. It never comes. To add weight to this you can say that
you will pass the email to Interpol if no reply within 12 hours. Always
works.
Their emails have a plausible looking
name but nearly always are on a Yahoo account with numbers after the
name. The wording is bland and generic and always refers to money,
banks and shipping. Time of day is usually early hours of the morning
GMT. Spelling of words like 'check' instead of cheque are dead give
aways. You have been warned.
A good link to see what's happening is
this Internet
Fraud and 419 scammers
5. Oil Crisis? Think we'll be driving
forever? Think you can afford it? What about the 'Spy in Your Car'?
Click here
Remember you read it here first - I told
you that the Tories would bring back the fuel escalator tax so that
no mstter what price fuel was the tax would rise exponentially. Well,
now the other tax 'em til it hurts ruffians are saying they will maintain
the price of petrol artificialy by claiming the difference between
reduced petrol costs and the existing price of petrol by calling it
a green tax. In other words petrol drops 10p due to low crude prices
and Labout Govt - keep the price of fuel at the same price anyway
and keep the difference. I think they call it robbery, fraud, scamming
or something like that. I believe we voted these clowns in to represent
the majority didn't we? Well they are pandering to the greenies and
conning us left right and centre regarding the Global Warming con
and other similar tax scams. Look out pockets they getting emptier
by the week.
6. Road
pricing - the new way to print money for failed Government
schemes and projects CLICK
HERE
Not just me talking about this - me and
1.8 million others CLICK
HERE
7. Read that The Conservatives will re-introduce
the Fuel
Escalator Tax on petrol. No worry - all it means is that
it will be set at 3% above inflation each year, so that if inflation
is, say, 3% then petrol TAX will go up by 6% a year each year, every
year and NEVER come down again - even if they gave petrol away for
nothing the government would still be around 80-90p per litre.
So now you know who to vote for next
time around? Glad you do coz I don't. It seems the motorist is yet
again seen as the ointment that will cure all the financial ills of
poor governments. Governments are elected by the people to represent
ALL the people not just key, loud pressure groups.
Way to go to be PM CMD! (Call Me
Dave) follow the greenies and the pressure groups - get your
extra votes and then stay in opposition. We thought we could rely
on a new opposition to come up with something better than Lib Left
Weak green stuff. We see the trick here - drop direct taxes slightly
then take it all back and more with indirect taxes.
The rich of the nation will not curb
their spending on fuel. The poorer ones will go slowly broke trying
to pay all the taxes and nothing will change globally except the coffers
of the chancellors office.
Now he's attracted the Green Vote, just
wait for the next 'vote'. CMD will offer petrol credits for all single
mothers and same sex couples who are having IVF, want men to conceive
& drive pink cars with sequinned air-bags........... I'm going
for a lie down....................
At least Attila the Hun would have driven
a Hummer on Nitrous - as long as we ignore the rest of his behaviour.
Ah no, he 'sacked the Roman Empire (i.e. the EU) didn't he? hmm.................
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