DRIVERS NEED TO ‘SPRUCE UP’ THEIR KNOWLEDGE OF CHRISTMAS TREE LAWS OR FACE FINES AND POINTS, SURVEY REVEALS

DRIVERS NEED TO ‘SPRUCE UP’ THEIR KNOWLEDGE OF CHRISTMAS TREE LAWS OR FACE FINES AND POINTS, SURVEY REVEALS

Three-quarters of British motorists have little or no idea about the laws for safely transporting Christmas trees, according to a survey carried out by Fiat Professional.

And around half are planning to buy a real tree for when they deck the halls. But bringing it home could land drivers with three penalty points on their licence, or an unlimited fine.

According to the Fiat Professional research, only 25 per cent of British adults say they know the rules regarding transporting Christmas trees safely on the road. 

And while there is no specific mention of the festive firs in the Highway Code, there is a section about loading your vehicle correctly and safely, which is appropriate at Yule time.

A Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency spokesman said: “A dangerously loaded vehicle will incur an instant three penalty points on your licence, along with an uncapped fine.” That means drivers could face a bill of thousands of pounds if they get needled.        

Around six per cent of drivers admit they have previously transported a tree in a manner which ‘may have contravened the rules of the road’ by leaving the tree hanging out of their vehicle, while an astonishing 25 per cent admit to just ‘throwing it in the car’ and not securing it. A further five per cent carry the tree home on the roof of their car, irrespective of whether or not they have a roof rack, securing it with rope or ratchet straps.

Where the tree is longer than the vehicle, the Highway Code clearly states that the overhanging load should feature a reflective flag to warn other motorists, while it mustn’t obscure the driver’s vision of the road.

Drivers of the new Fiat Professional Fullback and Fullback Cross won’t have this problem though. With comfortable seating for five and a cargo bed space of 1520mm (length) and 1470mm (width), the whole family can go out for the traditional Christmas tree buying trip, and bring it home safely and legally.

“The Highway Code clearly states that drivers must not overload their vehicle and must secure any load so that it doesn’t stick out dangerously,” says Richard Chamberlain, Head of Brand, Fiat Professional UK.

“The Fiat Fullback would certainly give owners plenty of space to carry a large tree, even if it had to be tied down, which can be done easily and safely with the Fullback’s load space. And as an added bonus, drivers won’t get stuck in the snow if it’s a white Christmas this year. The Fullback comes as standard with 4x4 transmission – with diff lock on the Cross versions.”

Pricing for the Fiat Fullback starts at £21,995 (ex VAT) for the 150HP Manual SX, rising to £27,995 (ex VAT) for the 180HP Auto Cross.

RARE AND UNUSUAL CARS AUCTIONED OFF FOR NEW TV SERIES

RARE AND UNUSUAL CARS AUCTIONED OFF FOR NEW TV SERIES

October Films are making a brand-new TV car restoration series. Motoring journalists and car fanatics Jonny Smith and Tom ‘Wookie’ Ford, together with Tim Glover from classic/custom car workshop RoadHouse Motor Co. have been on the hunt for affordable rare and unusual cars across Europe.

Ten cars have been transported back to the UK and partially restored, in order to bring them up to a standard the guys were happy to sell them at.

As part of the show's filming, the vehicles will be auctioned off on Sunday 2nd December 2018 in Stamford, Lincolnshire and there’s no reserve price! 

The cars up for auction include 1964 Seat 600D, 1975 Seat 133, 1987 Range Rover Series 1, 1980 Ford Fiesta, 1976 Ford Escort Estate, 1977 Ford Taunus, 1988 VW Jetta, 1978 Opel Kadett C, 1988 Renault 4F6 and 1971 Toyota Carina. 

If you’re interested in bidding or promoting the auction, please email katie.johnson@octoberfilms.co.uk or visit stamfordcarauction.com for more information.

We welcome those who want to attend the auction day, but there will also be the opportunity to bid via phone. Viewing of the cars will be from 9am - 10am and the auction will run from 10am - 3pm.

NATIONAL MOTOR MUSEUM’S LAND SPEED RECORD BREAKERS INSPIRE LUXURY SCARF COLLECTION

NATIONAL MOTOR MUSEUM’S LAND SPEED RECORD BREAKERS INSPIRE LUXURY SCARF COLLECTION

Bluebird

Icons of Speed

The National Motor Museum Trust at Beaulieu is delighted to announce a new motoring-inspired collection of silk scarves and pocket squares, based on iconic Land Speed Record breaking vehicles on display in the museum.

Three eye-catching designs have been launched by luxury scarf brand David Watson, as a result of an innovative Arts Council England funded project called Creative Commercial Collections. Led by Hampshire Cultural Trust, the project engaged with creatives to celebrate Hampshire’s rich heritage and produce high-quality products. The collaboration has resulted in a series of inventive designs, all inspired by the outstanding collections held across the county.

National Motor Museum Director of Collections Andrea Bishop said: “This was an exciting opportunity to use our world-famous collections in a refreshingly different way. The project enabled us to invite designers and artists to find inspiration in our world Land Speed Record breaking cars, to create designs that would suit high-quality commercial products. Each of these very special cars is a design icon and so were a compelling choice for this creative initiative. David Watson have added three new designs made for the National Motor Museum to their luxurious range of silk scarves and pocket squares.”

Sir Henry Segrave’s 1929 Golden Arrow inspired artist Mariska Parent’s Art Deco design, which celebrate the car’s strong lines and sweeping curves in rich colours to characterise the era. Donald Campbell’s 1961 Bluebird CN7 is represented in Liz Lippiatt’s interpretive design which shows the car morphing into a bluebird amid yellow tonal shapes which evoke the arid environment of Lake Eyre, Australia where the record was set.

Winchester-based creative studio Marmalade on Toast has produced a fresh, contemporary design using features from both the 1920 350hp and 1927 1000hp Sunbeams, as well as the Golden Arrow and Bluebird CN7, in a colourful, geometric pattern called Icons of Speed.

Samuel David Watson Petty, founder of New Forest-based David Watson, said: “I am so pleased to add these designs to my range of silk accessories. They are inspired by the National Motor Museum’s iconic cars and are a perfect match for our British made products.”

The National Motor Museum Trust, a charitable organisation, will receive a modest royalty from the sale of the scarves, along with the creatives who designed them.

The collection of pure silk and silk and cotton blend scarves and pocket squares is available from the Visitor Reception Gift Shop at the National Motor Museum, Beaulieu as well as the David Watson website at www.davidwatson.uk/nmm-shop. Prices start from £25 and range to £160.

HAGERTY PRICE GUIDE REPORTS 1% GROWTH OF CLASSIC CAR MARKET

HAGERTY PRICE GUIDE REPORTS 1% GROWTH OF CLASSIC CAR MARKET

December 2018 Hagerty Price Guide update shows market grew by 1.07% since April, with 52% of tracked vehicles rising and 26% falling in value.

Hagerty, the classic car insurer and valuation experts, has just released the latest update to its market-leading UK Hagerty Price Guide (HPG) which can be seen in its entirety online here. The HPG tracks over 40,000 individual values of over 2,000 classic car models, using data collected from auctions, insured values and private sale prices.

The HPG’s Classic Index, containing fifty of the most popular UK classics (list here), showed an overall average increase of 1.07% since April 2018. This is the smallest periodic increase since the UK HPG was started in 2012. Other headlines include:

• 52% of models rose and 26% of models dropped in
• Biggest drops were in cars that were relatively cheap for a long time, rose rapidly, and have now settled back. For example:
  • Aston Martin Lagonda Series I: -11.9%
  • Ferrari 308 GTB Standard: -10.7%
  • Ferrari Testarossa: -7.6%
  • Willys MB Jeep: -8.6%
• Risers tended to be cars that combined sensible values with practicality and style:
  • Lancia Fulvia Sport Zagato 1.6: +5%
  • Mazda MX-5 1.6i: +8.5%
  •  Fiat 500 F: +4.3%

• Other popular cars rose at a steadier rate:
  • Aston Martin DBS Vantage: +1.6%
  • MGB-GT V8: +0.4%
  • VW Beetle 1200 (oval window): +0.9%
• Some cars that had risen steeply over the last few years are now flat:
  • Ford Capri Mk III 2.8i: no change
  • Mini Cooper 1275S: no change
  • Porsche 911 (930) Turbo: no change

Analysis

Angus Forsyth, MD of Hagerty International, gave the following statement:

“It's clear the market is currently in a state of flux, although we believe prices are correcting rather than anything else. The biggest percentage drops are in those cars that rose rapidly in value over the last few years: early Jaguar E-Types, classic Aston Martins and 1980s Ferraris have all been particularly affected. For example, the Aston Martin DB4 Saloon has dropped by around 3.5% (average value now £385,500 from £399,500).”

“We’ve also seen some of these models struggle at auction. For example, we’ve noted six no-sales at auction since August of early ‘flat floor’ Jaguar E-Types (including two desirable ‘outside bonnet lock’ cars).”

“We’ve also noted a disparity between sold values and advertised values for those cars that have dropped. For example, the average price of a Ferrari Testarossa sold at a major UK/European auction this year was £87,800 with the most expensive being a car that sold for £111,886 including commission (Artcurial). In the US, these figures are similar with an average of £85,300 and a top value of £120,710 (RM Sotheby’s) and fall in line with the HPG Condition 3 (good) and Condition 2 (excellent) values of £78,100 and £119,000 respectively. However, when we looked at advertised values the average is £116,000 and the top advertised value is £199,950*. We believe that some sellers’ expectations are still higher than the market will bear, and we caution against using advertised values as a guide to valuing your car for insurance purposes or otherwise. That said, this autumn, we have seen many of the UK auction houses setting realistic guide prices which their customers seem to be accepting; this is good for the market in the long run.”

“The Porsche market is interesting. Porsche 911 values have generally followed the same trajectory as those noted above (swift rise followed by correction) but the market is 6 months to a year ahead of other cars. For example, two years ago values of Porsche 911T hit their peak. This time last year they had dropped by around 10% (our top value was £80,900), but now are climbing back up again (current top value £87,200). On the other hand, Porsche 924 values are on the rise: one very low mileage, pristine example sold for an astonishing £42,000 at the RM Sotheby’s Porsche Anniversary Sale in the US. While the HPG hasn’t reflected what is considered to be an anomaly for this car, we’ve seen plenty of more run-of- the-mill examples of the 924 achieve strong sales.”

‘The 924 is an example of a classic that combines style and value for money with usability. Enthusiasts, and we believe this is especially true of those who have bought their first classic in the last few years, like cars that drive more like a modern car, have good parts supply and can be used for different events such as taking the family to a show or road rallying. Lancia Fulvia coupes, Alfa Romeo 105-series cars, Fiat 500s, early Ford Escorts and BMW 2002s all fit this description and have all continued to rise in value.”

Marketing Director Marcus Atkinson also noted: “We’re continuing to expand the UK Price Guide and it remains free to access online. In this update we added over 60 new model guides to the hundreds already in the guide, providing historic information and buying tips. We’re constantly revising the guide and aim to update it quarterly.”

*Average values based on published values of 11 cars sold at auction in the UK and Europe and 14 cars sold in the US in 2018, including costs and commission. Advertised values based on all 35 cars with prices displayed advertised on www.carandclassic.co.ukon 13 Nov 2018.

THE CHRISTMAS GIFT THAT JUST KEEPS ON GIVING

THE CHRISTMAS GIFT THAT JUST KEEPS ON GIVING…

The festive season is fast approaching and tickets for what’s going to be an exceptionally merry 2019 Silverstone Classic (26-28 July) are the perfect Christmas present for family and friends.

Tickets to the Classic really are gifts that just keep on giving! Bringing great joy on receipt, then seven months of unbridled anticipation, before giving the lucky beneficiary an unforgettable experience at one of next summer’s premier fun-fuelled car-themed festivals.

Suiting all Yuletide pockets, a wide range of 2019 tickets are available from affordable stocking fillers to full hospitality packages for under the Christmas tree. 

Making present buying even easier and more attractive, all tickets are available online with the bonus of significant Super Early Bird discounts if purchased now. Adding to the convenience and presentation, a bespoke Gift Certificate can be downloaded from silverstoneclassic.com/gift-certificate for printing out and personalising all ready for giving on Christmas Day.

While the Classic boasts unrivalled on-track action packed with the world’s largest retro-racing grids, the massive three-day festival is also loaded with flat-out family fun to richly entertain all those lucky enough to be given tickets.

The cars are the stars at the Classic and in addition to the spectacular motor racing featuring more glorious and great sounding motor sport history than can be relished anywhere else on the planet, there will be record-breaking displays, epic parades of classic cars, and even the opportunity to buy a cherished model from yesteryear at the popular Silverstone Auctions sale.

There’s also plenty on offer for all ages with a vintage funfair, crazy golf, an Adrenaline Zone, rubber-burning action from the Streetcar Shootouts, air displays, a host of different interactive driving activities plus live rock music concerts.

Ensuring there are not any ‘batteries not included’ disappointments on the big day, all Classic tickets give access to both racing paddocks, all open trackside grandstands, the live music performances, air shows, vintage funfair rides and the vast majority of the epic family entertainment running alongside the non-stop on-track thrills.

“Half the fun of Christmas is finding wonderful and unusual presents that aren’t just quickly overlooked novelties,” said Silverstone Classic CEO, Nick Wigley. “Give someone Classic tickets and they’ll spend the next seven months dreaming about all the excitement that lies ahead. Then afterwards they’ll have some truly great memories of what’s going to be another unforgettable festival. The Classic is the gift that just keeps on giving!”

What’s more, those inspired to buy tickets before the end of December can take advantage of the Super Early Bird offer with savings of up to 22 per cent on Standard tickets – a big bonus for everyone seeking special Christmas presents.

Adult admission starts at just £35 with the price of the three-day weekend ticket frozen at £99 until the end of the year. Full details of all ticket prices – including Parc Fermé and Clubhouse hospitality packages, the RetroRun experience and camping – can be found on the silverstoneclassic.com website. 

WINNERS CELEBRATE AT GUILD OF MOTORING WRITERS AWARDS 2018

WINNERS CELEBRATE AT GUILD OF MOTORING WRITERS AWARDS 2018

Guild Awards 2018 - Winners

Award-winning motoring journalists, photographers, broadcasters and authors from the UK and Europe were honoured at the Guild of Motoring Writers’ Annual Awards on Thursday 29 November at the Royal Automobile Club, Pall Mall, London.

A record-breaking total of 284 submissions (the most ever received in the 74-year history of the Guild) was entered in the professional categories, with further entries for aspiring young journalists and those making a special contribution to motoring and motorsport. Formula 1 commentator Ben Edwards was Master of Ceremonies for the awards.

The prized ‘Journalist of the Year’ title, supported by Renault, was awarded to John Evans who was singled out for his work that provided brilliant takes on interesting yet under-reported or simply unknown areas of the industry. Erin Baker was second with Christofer Lloyd in third.

The top Motoring Photographer was named as Drew Gibson, while the Motorsport Photographer of the Year was, for the second year running, Jakob Ebrey.

The Mercedes-Benz Montagu of Beaulieu trophy, for the best recording of the history of motoring in the English language, was collected by prolific author and noted Guild historian Karl Ludvigsen, for his comprehensive two-volume history of Reid Railton. Jonathan Wood and Graham Rabagliati were second and third.

In a closely-fought contest, the Newspress Young Writer of the Year was collected by Jack Phillips for a series of innovative reports with fresh angles and clever ideas – such as how the world of gaming is impacting on driver skills on the race track.

The ever-popular Feature Writer of the Year category, sponsored by British Car Auctions, attracted a massive 42 entries. The winner was Richard Webber for a feature that combined a road test with a visit to Jim Clark’s hometown.

Staying with motorsport, the Peugeot Motorsport Cup was won by Germany-based overseas Guild member Vaishali Dinakaran for her varied work in the field – including driving a Renault Formula 1 race car.

Courage and endurance are two of the qualities looked for in the Guild’s Driver of the Year. This year, these were very much in evidence from winner Billy Monger, who battled back from a horrific accident which resulted in him losing both legs, to return to single-seater racing. He received a standing ovation as he walked to the stage to collect his award.

Collecting the Rider of the Year trophy was British Superbike runner-up and soon to be Moto2 contender Jake Dixon.

Away from the world of journalism, the Guild’s award for a Special Contribution to Motoring, sponsored by Kia, was presented to Matthew Avery, head of research at Thatcham, for their contribution over 50 years to vehicle safety and security.

Author and Guild Benevolent fund-raiser Giles Chapman was recognised for his work over many years with the Pemberton Tankard.

The final presentation of the night was the President’s Trophy which was awarded to Aston Martin president and chief executive Dr Andy Palmer for his work in reviving the fortunes of the famous British brand.

GUILD AWARDS 2018 – WINNERS AND HIGHLY COMMENDED

AA Campaigning Journalist of the Year

Winner: Alex Grant

Highly Commended: Louise Cole and Maria McCarthy

GOMW Photographer of the Year – General

Winner: Drew Gibson

Highly Commended: Olgun Kordal and Matt Howell

GOMW Photographer of the Year – Motorsport

Winner: Jakob Ebrey

Highly Commended: Kel Edge and Jayson Fong

British Car Auctions Feature Writer of the Year

Winner: Richard Webber

Highly Commended: James Taylor and Rachel Boagey

Peter James Insurance Editor of the Year

Winner: Laurie Caddell

Highly Commended: Ben Klemenzson and Chris Rees

GKN Driveline Consumer Journalist of the Year

Winner: Claire Evans

Highly Commended: Maria McCarthy and Christofer Lloyd

IAM RoadSmart Safety Award

Winner: David Williams

Highly Commended: Louise Cole and Gustavo Ruffo

Market Engineering Award for Automotive Technology Journalism

Winner: Nick Hull

Highly Commended: Jorn Madslien and John Evans

Mercedes-Benz Award for the Montagu of Beaulieu Trophy

First: Karl Ludvigsen

Second: Jonathan Wood

Third: Graham Rabagliati

Newspress Young Writer of the Year

Winner: Jack Phillips

Highly Commended: Alex Kalinauckas and Sophie Williamson-Stothert

Peugeot Motorsport Cup

Winner: Vaishali Dinakaran

Highly Commended: James Taylor and Dan Trent

Prova PR Business Writer of the Year

Winner: Nick Gibbs

Highly Commended: Lem Bingley and Martin Kahl

Renault UK / The Guild of Motoring Writers’ Journalist of the Year

First: John Evans

Second: Erin Baker

Third: Christofer Lloyd

RM Sotheby’s Classic Writer of the Year

Winner: Mick Walsh

Highly Commended: Sam Dawson and Greg MacLeman

Guild Driver of the Year

Billy Monger

Guild Rider of the Year

Jake Dixon

President’s Trophy

Dr Andy Palmer (President and CEO, Aston Martin)

Special Commendation for a Contribution to Motoring sponsored by Kia

Thatcham Research

Phil Llewellin Student Journalist of the Year sponsored by CAR

Winner: Emily Macbeth

Highly Commended: Guy Hirst and Jake Horton

Sir William Lyons Award sponsored by Jaguar

Winner: Luke Chillingsworth

Highly Commended: Nathan Hine and Alex Whitworth

Pemberton Trophy

Giles Chapman

THE FINEST SELECTION OF MOTORING ART CHRISTMAS CARDS

THE FINEST SELECTION OF MOTORING ART CHRISTMAS CARDS

Motorgifts is offering the finest ever selection of classic car Christmas cards, with a special pack of 10 assorted cards which have been painted by some of Britain’s leading motoring artists.

The pack includes classic Aston Martin, Austin Healey, Jaguar, MG and Morris Minor themed cards, plus others featuring a range of colourful and evocative scenes from the golden age of motoring.

All the cards have been painted by such highly regarded automotive artists as Kevin Walsh, Trevor Mitchell and Richard Wheatland and contain an outstanding level of detail of the cars which are featured.

GUARANTEED SAME DAY DESPATCH

Motorists prides itself on its high-quality of customer service and guarantees that all Christmas card orders received by 3pm are despatched by 1st class post the same day (Monday to Friday) to ensure rapid delivery.

 

FREE 2019 DESK-TOP CLASSIC CAR CALENDAR WITH ANY 2 PACKS

As a very special additional offer, Motorgifts is also giving away a high-quality 2019 A5 size classic British car desk calendar with the purchase of any two or more packs of cards.

 

100s MORE CHRISTMAS MOTORING GIFTS AVAILABLE

Motorgifts.co.uk is the original online motoring gift shop and stocks hundreds of individual items, with prices ranging from just £1.99 for a car shaped air fresheners and motoring themed bookmarks, to several hundred pounds for limited edition motoring prints and sculptures.

The full range of products can be viewed at www.motorgifts.co.uk, which also features numerous special Christmas offers.

The Christmas cards cost just £9.99 per pack of 10 (+P&P) and can either be purchased online or by calling 01625-520322.

RESPONSIBLE USE IS KEY – FIVA INTRODUCES ITS NEW GUIDE FOR HISTORIC MOTORING

RESPONSIBLE USE IS KEY – FIVA INTRODUCES ITS NEW GUIDE FOR HISTORIC MOTORING

One of the highlights of FIVA’s annual General Assembly, held this year in Gibraltar, was the presentation of the FIVA Guide for responsible use of historic vehicles on today’s roads. It reminds owners and drivers of historic vehicles of the importance of caring for the environment, and for the safety of other road users when taking a trip in a historic vehicle.

Tiddo Bresters, FIVA’s Vice President for Legislation, comments, “FIVA is fully aware that the world of mobility and transport is changing. However, it is also deeply convinced that in times of rapid innovation in vehicle technology, the sight of historic vehicles in use on the roads – artefacts that demonstrate the designs, the skills and the cultures of past times – will continue to delight people all over the world.

“Not only does our new Guide address the more than a million and a half historic vehicle owners that FIVA represents, it will also help the authorities and institutions influential in road safety and the environment to recognise that historic vehicles have a place in the world’s future landscape – as they have had for so many decades in the past.”

With the publication of the new Guide, FIVA confirms its commitment to maintaining the high standards of road safety for which historic vehicle drivers are known – not least by the insurance industry. (Indeed, FIVA is a member of the European Road Safety Charter, which it joined almost 10 years ago.)

The Guide replaces earlier publications that expressed FIVA’s respect for these two essential concerns – the environment and the safety of other road-users – and FIVA’s member organisations in around 70 countries, across all continents, will be encouraged to actively distribute it.

The Guide, which has over 20 pages and is imaginatively illustrated by three women illustrators from three different countries, has been edited under the direction of FIVA’s Legislation Commission. The cover of the Guide (image available for publication) is inspired by an actual photograph taken by FIVA’s Tiddo Bresters in Heidelberg in 2018 – and it perfectly illustrates the joy of introducing future generations to our mobile heritage. It shows children displaying a natural curiosity in the unusual sight of a BMW Isetta – a motorcycle-engined microcar from the 1950s – and in the background, the illustrator has added its modern equivalent, a brand-new electric microcar, the Microlino, inspired by the Isetta.

GOODWOOD PRESENTS THE JIM CLARK TRUST WITH £53,000 FUNDRAISING FROM THIS YEAR’S FESTIVAL OF SPEED

GOODWOOD PRESENTS THE JIM CLARK TRUST WITH £53,000 FUNDRAISING FROM THIS YEAR’S FESTIVAL OF SPEED

The Jim Clark Trust is delighted to announce that £53,000 was raised by donations from Goodwood Festival of Speed visitors over the four-day event weekend held this summer (12-15 July 2018). The official charity of the Festival, the proceeds will help to celebrate the memory of one of the most successful and admired motor racing legends of all time, with plans for a new Jim Clark Museum.

The Jim Clark Trust would like to thank the generosity of all those who donated over the course of the event, as well as guests at the Goodwood House Saturday Night Party, the Goodwood Road Racing Club and in particular, the Duke of Richmond and Gordon for inviting the Trust to be the chosen charity for this year’s event.

This year’s Festival of Speed 2018 marked the 50th anniversary of 1968 with a competition launched to win the 100,000th Lotus ever made to raise funds for the charity ­– a Jim Clark special edition Lotus Evora GT410 Sport inspired by Jim’s famous 1960’s Elan and created by Lotus Exclusive. The winner of the competition will be announced at the opening of the new Jim Clark Museum in summer 2019. Motorsport fans around the world are encouraged to enter this amazing competition at www.jimclarklotus.com.

The new, expanded Jim Clark Museum is being built to preserve the memory and display some of the incredible cars in which Jim Clark raced. The new £1.6m museum is funded by a partnership between the Heritage Lottery Fund, Scottish Borders Council and The Jim Clark Trust. The building works began in June 2018 and the new museum is expected to open in summer 2019.

The Jim Clark Trust is committed to £300,000 funding towards the project. The current plans have space for two race cars and the Trust is now seeking additional funds to explore plans to increase the number of cars on display in the future. The Trust, whose aims are focused on heritage, education and inspiration is run by relatives of Jim Clark and is reliant on public support. In recent years fundraising has included events, grants, crowdfunding, merchandise, and special edition memorabilia such as driving gloves and a commemorative whisky.

The launch of the Jim Clark special edition Lotus Evora GT410 Sport competition is the most ambitious fundraising campaign to date and has attracted interest from Jim Clark fans, F1, classic and motorsport fans around the world. The Lotus Evora includes special features such as a Scottish tartan interior, classic wooden gear knob, Jim Clark signature and discreet interior plaque making this 100,000th Lotus truly unique. The launch of the competition was attended by the Duke of Richmond and Gordon, a Patron of the Trust, with Group Lotus CEO Feng Qingfeng.

Over the course of the Festival, The Jim Clark Trust welcomed visitors to their stand with an exhibition featuring the life of Jim Clark as a racing driver and farmer in the Scottish Borders, historic memorabilia and a display of classic and modern race cars. Honorary President of the Trust Sir Jackie Stewart commemorated the 50th anniversary of 1968 by driving Jim’s Lotus 25 up the Hill Climb with Doug Niven, Jim’s cousin and Family Trustee, in a Lotus Cortina. Plans for the new museum also received the support of FIA President Jean Todt announced as a new Patron of the Trust at the Festival of Speed.

Commentating on the presentation of the funds raised from this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed, Ben Smith, Secretary of the Jim Clark Trust, said, “The support of Goodwood and donations raised by the thousands of visitors to this year’s Festival of Speed visitors is tremendous and we are extremely grateful. A sincere thank you must go to the Duke of Richmond and Gordon, the army of bucket collectors and volunteers who helped to support the fundraising over four memorable days at this year’s event. We were greatly encouraged by the genuine interest in our plans and affection for Jim Clark and we look forward to welcoming visitors to the new museum in the future.”

ATTACK OF THE CLONES: CAR CLONING IN LONDON RISES BY 50% IN ONE YEAR

ATTACK OF THE CLONES: CAR CLONING IN LONDON RISES BY 50% IN ONE YEAR

Cases of car cloning in London have risen by 50 per cent in just one year, with concerns that similar levels of cloning may be rife across the rest of the UK, according to official figures obtained by HonestJohn.co.uk.

The leading consumer motoring website analysed previously unseen Transport for London (TfL) data for the Congestion Charge zone and found that the number of Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) being cancelled due to car cloning has soared.

In 2016 the number of PCNs cancelled on the grounds that the car was a clone was 1099; however, in 2017, this figure increased by 50 per cent with 1652 cases being recorded by TfL. Data for the first six months of 2018 show that car cloning continues to rise, with official figures up by a third on January - June 2017.

The true figure for the number of cloned cars on the road in London is thought to be much higher, given the complex and lengthy PCN appeals process and the fact that the Congestion Charge zone only operates Monday to Friday.

In the event of a PCN being issued due to a cloned car, the legitimately registered keeper will be required to provide evidence to satisfy the issuer of the ticket that their car was not at the time and place where the alleged offence occurred.

“This is just the tip of the iceberg,” said HonestJohn.co.uk’s Managing Editor, Daniel Powell. “On the grounds that it is down to the car owner to prove they are innocent, it would be safe to assume that the true figure for car cloning in London is significantly higher as many drivers will be unable supply the evidence TfL requires to cancel the PCN.

“For those involved, it can be a very frightening and stressful experience, because they will be threatened with crippling fines and court action if they cannot provide comprehensive proof that they were not on the capital’s roads. It also raises an important question - how many drivers simply pay the fine to avoid the stress?

“There are a number of steps car owners can take to protect themselves, with the most obvious one being photos of their car to show the subtle differences between the clone and legitimate vehicle. Legal number plates usually have the manufacturer’s logo on them, while the clones are usually blank. CCTV footage will also prove a car’s location at a certain time, along with footage from a dash camera with GPS tracking.”

As part of its detailed response to HonestJohn.co.uk’s FOI, TfL said: “Prior to issuing the PCN we manually verify that the image of the vehicle observed in the zone matches the vehicle information provided by the DVLA. Only when there is a match is a penalty issued. At the point of issuing the penalty, we would not know if a vehicle had been cloned. 

“On receipt of the penalty, a motorist can follow the representations and appeals procedure and challenge a PCN. If we receive a representation stating a vehicle has been cloned we request evidence to confirm this.”

The Congestion Charge zone is enforced by a network of roadside automatic number plate recognition cameras (commonly known as ANPR), which record the registration and image of each vehicle as it enters and leaves the zone. Drivers that do not pay the London Congestion zone fee are sent a PCN for £130, which they need to pay within 28 days. TfL usually reduces the penalty to £65 if it is paid within 14 days.

Source: HONEST JOHN

FIVA CULTURE AWARDS: THE WINNERS ARE REVEALED

FIVA CULTURE AWARDS: THE WINNERS ARE REVEALED

Earlier this year, the FIVA Culture Commission (CC) invited classic vehicle enthusiasts to nominate entrants for a new series of awards to celebrate our cultural and technical mobile heritage.

FIVA (the Fédération Internationale des Véhicules Anciens or international federation of historic vehicles) announced that the Culture Awards would comprise the following three categories: 

• RESEARCH

• DEDICATED SERVICE by INDIVIDUALS or ORGANISATIONS (CLUBS, FEDERATIONS, MUSEUMS), ETC.

• EDUCATION, TRAINING and the raising of AWARENESS

At the annual FIVA General Assembly in Gibraltar, the CC had the honour of revealing the winners of the three categories. The selection proved to be difficult due to the quality of the submissions, and the CC needed to study all the applications in great detail, with consideration given to a range of factors that included media coverage, the involvement of the general public and the participation of younger enthusiasts.

Nataša G. Jerina, CC President, commented, “It was very satisfying and a surprise to receive so many applications in the first year of the award presentation and the quality of the responses made selecting a winner even more of a challenge.”

The FIVA Culture Commission is now pleased to announce that the 2018 winners by category are:

RESEARCH

Winner: The Federation of British Historic Vehicle Clubs with its National Historic Vehicle Survey

The CC noted not just the comprehensive quality of the Survey but how the findings indicated a wider appreciation of historic vehicles by the British population; the association of historic vehicles with other heritage organisations; plus a set of figures, such as the £5.5 billion value of the movement to the UK economy, all of which help to influence the UK government and politicians to ensure we can continue to use our historic vehicles on the road. In particular, we were impressed by the understanding of employment trends and the need to ensure that skilled resources are developed in this sector, leading to the creation of the Heritage Skills Academy.

DEDICATED SERVICE

Winner: The ‘Motorcycle Republic Symposium’, an event organised by the Hellenic Motorcycle Museum

The CC noted that the 3-day event, part of the annual FIVA motorcycle week, welcomed more than 2,000 visitors who were able to see some 50 motorcycles and attend a comprehensive range of presentations, ranging from a video presentation on the ‘Charter of Turin’ to a talk on ‘Education in Riding Safely’.

EDUCATION, TRAINING and the raising of AWARENESS

Winner: Federación Mexicana de Automoviles Antiguos y de Colección, A.C. with the Diploma syllabus

The project is very comprehensive, with a strong practical component and – having been in operation for nine years – it can boast approximately 300 graduates.

Special Culture Award 2017

Finally, the FIVA Culture Commission would like to thank Motorhistorisk Samraad and Mr Henning Thomsen for an application originally sent in 2017, nominating Mr Ole Sommer for a Culture Award for Dedicated Service. We’re pleased to confirm that the Commission has agreed to present a Special Culture Award in recognition of the wide-ranging and passionate commitment to historic vehicles, and Jaguars, in particular, demonstrated throughout Mr Sommer’s life.

“It’s fantastic to realise how many projects are being undertaken worldwide, many of which we are as yet unaware of, that we believe we should endeavour to promote whenever possible. We hope to receive many more applications in 2019 and we look forward to receiving them with great enthusiasm!” confirms Nataša Jerina.

The winning projects will each be the subject of a short video on the FIVA website.