This weekend’s eagerly-anticipated 30th birthday edition of The Classic 30 July – 1 August will be the biggest and best in the festival’s outstanding history with record grids, record classic car displays, record anniversary circuit parades and record ticket sales plus epic levels of very welcome entertainment for the whole family. “It’s the high-octane, fun-fuelled event that we’ve all been … [Read more...]
News
Book review: Blue Lemon – Rallying for the Buzz by Phillip Haslam
This rather elegant coffee-table book tells the fascinating story of Phillip and Yvonne Haslam's induction into historic rallying, a hobby that subsequently beguiled and converted them into seasoned and serial competitors on some of the most exotic and daunting historic endurance rallies on the calendar, says Ken Davies. Some 100 rallies through 58 countries totalling over 200,000 hard-fought … [Read more...]
Pingdemic is punishing motor trade
Recruitment issues and the need for self-isolation are causing staffing issues across the remarketing sector, reports the Vehicle Remarketing Association. Chair Philip Nothard said that VRA members were experiencing issues finding staff to fill all kinds of long-term positions, and that the problem was being exacerbated by the ongoing short-term demands of self-isolation. “Obviously, we … [Read more...]
Fuelling pressure on the Government isolation plan
The government announcement to exclude essential workers from self-isolation requirements if they have been double vaccinated should be extended to forecourt workers, says the Petrol Retailers Association. Gordon Balmer, the Executive Director of the PRA has said, "We are well aware of supply issues in shops, primarily as a result of workers who are part of the supply chain including terminal … [Read more...]
Tradelines 28 July
North Wales Motor Company, Llandudno has added Kia to its Honda new car franchises. It also services and sells used Lotus Cars and will run the Korean car operation from a former Peugeot site on Argyll Road, Llandudno. Gravells, of West Wales, has expanded into England. The booming Kia business is the sixth outlet by the family and will operate out of Hereford. The number of drivers expecting … [Read more...]
EV ownership costs undercutting petrol models
The cost of running an electric car for a year is 47% cheaper than the cost of running a petrol car, according to comparethemarket.com. The figures show the average cost to run an electric vehicle for 12 months is £1,091 compared with £2,062 for a petrol vehicle – a difference of £971. The research analyses the cost of insurance, fuel, and road taxes. For drivers of electric vehicles, car … [Read more...]
Vauxhall expand Griffin models range
Vauxhall has expanded its Griffin line-up – that offers high levels of standard specification, including comfort and safety technologies as well as new styling features – to include its best-selling all-electric Corsa-e and Crossland models. The Griffin variants add a number of key styling features for both the New Corsa-e as well as the New Crossland, and come with a number of technology … [Read more...]
Cardiff to get “born-again” electric taxis
Cardiff will be one of the first UK cities to get the latest type of electric taxi from converted petrol or diesel cars. All-electric taxi and van conversions, Dynamo Motor Company has announced its next expansion phase, where it plans to recruit an extra 275 people in the UK and convert up to 10,000 taxis and commercial/privately owned vehicles per year in 2026. Through its Seedrs campaign … [Read more...]
First drive: Mazda3 186ps GT Sport
Just when you think things couldn’t get better, Mazda has improved its acclaimed Skyactiv engine technology, writes Robin Roberts. Constant engine development and software revisions have improved combustion and power, reduced emissions and extended economy in the latest e-Skyactiv X. We tried it out in the newest popular Mazda3 186ps GT Sport, costing from just over £28,000. The … [Read more...]
Newslines 23 July
Welsh Conservative Shadow Economy Minister Paul Davies MS has called on Welsh Government to better support the automotive supplier sector in Wales and encourage more investment. He said the Labour controlled Welsh Government has an anti-car agenda and was not flying the flag for the Welsh car industry. Some keyless Range Rover, BMW and Mercedes models are uninsurable in certain UK cities as they … [Read more...]