Everyone Loves Donald

 

No, not the lying, felonious, orange man-baby.

Although it seems a lot of people do love him.

Millions of people in fact.

But I'm talking about Donald Osborne...

...the knowledgeable and dapper vehicle appraiser and regular contributor to Jay Leno's Garage.

I was watching their latest output on YouTube yesterday.  They are clearly great mates and the way he takes Jay's gentle mockery is a pleasure to watch - especially about the concept of their regular segment, "Assess and Caress" in which the idea is for Jay to decide which of three vehicles chosen by Donald has gained most value in the previous 5 years.

Now, I may be wrong, but I suspect that Messrs. Leno & Osborne will not be fans of Donald Trump - unlike the stars of the other American YouTube show I watched yesterday - an episode of Coffee Walk where we were treated to a look around Sean Pettiford's vehicle collection.  Although Trump would call if Covfefe Walk.

What do those millions of fans see in Trump?  He is creepy, he cannot string together a coherent answer to any normal question, he makes up lies and statistics on the spot, he managed to bankrupt casinos.

I see no redeeming credentials whatsoever.

You could argue that it's none of my business being a Brit but happens with America affects the whole World.  There is already talk of him doing a Putin and Xi to change the rules to stay in power longer.  And as Putin has him by the short-and-curlies, it doesn't bode well for Ukraine - and therefore the rest of Europe and NATO.

Meat Loaf was a fan - and I believe that cost him his life as he fell for the Anti-Vaxxer nonsense that Trump liked to promote.

So how can intelligent, articulate, hard-working people such as Dennis & Sean be voting for Trump?

This picture Sean posted on Facebook of the keys his wife had in her pocket imply that he is of the Trump persuasion:

They can't be falling for the Fox News tripe - they're too busy to watch it.

Maybe they are simply life-long Republicans - or maybe they see something in him that very few people outside of the States can see.

I hope they are right - evidence from 2016 to 2020 does not look promising but democracy has declared a winner so we need to accept it and work with it.

Maybe they didn't see a better candidate, over to Jonathan Pie...

Little Mix

 I don't like Little Mix - I'm just using this picture as clickbait.

This post is actually about a lot on the US online car auction site Bring A Trailer - this lot.

The cars involved are smaller than their usual ones.

In fact, it's a mix of little cars - and other vehicular entities - 41 Matchbox models to be precise.

I remember the ones I used to have - I played with them a lot so I don't regret not keeping them in original condition in original boxes.

This is despite the auction lot, at time of typing up this post, sitting at $1400.

I had a couple of the ones that are for sale - like the Greyhound bus and the Fire Engine - I also had several models of American cars but was surprised to see Americans would have models of British cars - there is a Ford Corsair there and one of the BMC ADO16s - the MG option if I'm not mistaken.  I imagine most American buyers would be a bit bemused by it.

Nice to know they were made in England though - the real cars and the toys.

The few of mine I still have are pretty wrecked.

But I'd still like to give a shout out to my wrecks.

Breakfast Time Bad Driving

They were all out this morning.  Several were driving white vans.  I caught a lot on my dash-cam.

To start with, I had someone decide that he was coming off at Junction 3.

Nothing wrong with coming off at Junction 3 - I've done it myself on many occasions - it's handy for The Asda, And Tranmere Rovers.

But this guy was in the outside lane when he decided it and had to cut in front of two other lanes of traffic - one of which included me.  I didn't bother including the footage because, rather annoyingly, it looks less dramatic when you  play it back.

Or maybe I'm just a drama queen.

But then look at this other twerp joining at the same junction:

This morning saw the usual collection of tailgaters and middle-lane hogs.

But this lane hogger in particular annoyed me because, not only was he driving a white van, he didn't have his lights on.

Then you get the white van man who does have his lights on but doesn't use the handy orange flashing ones that give other drivers a clue as to your intentions.  It's a good job BMW don't make white vans.

But that wasn't his worst crime.  Note that the other two white van drivers knew which lane they needed to be in and how to position yourself going around a roundabout.

Maybe he was late for his breakfast.

Crazy Horses

Watched the current series finale of Fifth Gear last night.

Something Jason Plato said made me look up his age.  I was very surprised to learn that he is a year younger than me.

Not, I hasten to add, because I think he looks older than me - I do actually think he looks younger than me.

But because of the length of his motor racing career and because he wears a flat cap.

But, enough about commenting on the looks of motoring journalists who are younger than me as they get older.

My main take from that programme involved Vicki (aged 52) hooning around in the Ford Mustang Dark Horse - and thoroughly enjoying it.

This was a car that I had just watched Dennis Collins (who is actually about 18 month OLDER than me) hooning around in his latest edition of Coffee Walk.

Dennis commented on how the manual versions (like his) seemed very rare - in fact his local dealer wasn't aware of another one.

Vicki was driving one though so I suspect that is a US/EU thing.  She also announced that it is available in right-hand drive.

Which is nice.

The other thing Dennis said that slightly amused me was that not many people over there had heard of The Dark Horse Mustang.

Maybe time to look up what "Dark Horse" actually means.?

Where has Tom Ford's hair gone?

Here's a picture from back in the day of Tom Ford and Johnny Smith on Fifth Gear.

Back in the day, Tom Ford was known as The Wookie.  A nickname now given by Steve Berry to his sidekick/producer/editor Paul Roverman (not his real name)

He was called that because he was very hairy.

I have followed them both in various guises since they left that show - most recently on YouTube.

I was well aware of Jonny's diminished hairline but, for some reason, maybe it's been a very gradual process, I've only just noticed that Tom has now gone the same way:

I was shocked.

But mostly because he looks a hell of a lot younger now.

You've Bean Nicked!

According to the guy I listen to on Dee Radio driving in to work this week, there has been some filming going on in the Handbridge area of Chester and some 1980s era cars been seen parked there.

A bit more digging by the breakfast DJ came up with Anemone, a film that will star Daniel Day-Lewis and Sean Bean.

There have been no sightings of the much-married Sean Bean or the much-retired Daniel Day-Lewis. According to Wikipedia, Daniel's first retirement in 1997 was cobblers.

Anyway, the BBC are reporting today that those cars have been ticketed by traffic wardens.

The cars, were allegedly parked on double-yellow lines - none are visible in the photos so has another crime been committed in covering them over?  Google Streetview does clearly show them:

It appears that the Council did not give any special permissions for the filming so the arrogance of the film team may have come in to play - or maybe this was a calculated risk and they are happy to pay the fines.

I am a bit more surprised that they think that in the 1980s, everybody drove Fords.

Or is it because the production company are called Focus Features?

Recalling when Leyland Daf were British

I've done loads of stories about recalls.

Like this one.

And this one.

Then there was this one.

And of course this one.

And this one.

Closely followed by this one.

All of them suitably stupid.

Like today's one from drive.com.au

Remember when LDVs were British?

Well now they are Chinese.

And 932 of them are being recalled due to a faulty Website.

I'm not too sure we should be using the word "recall" every time.  The Tesla one involved a software drop and this one involves owners throwing away any specification sheets obtained from the LDV Automotive website.

We should have Recalls, Patches and Booboos.

This particular Booboo, could result in "increased braking distances and/or reduced braking performance" or "reduced steering response which may lead to the vehicle to rollover."

And apparently, "A reduction or a loss in braking performance, a reduced steering response and/or vehicle rollover could result in a serious accident to the vehicle occupants or other road users that can lead to severe injury or death."

Death by website.

Wish You Were Here...?

I hate the word "Holibobs".

It should ever only be used by persons involved in conversations that include somebody under the age of 8.

Anyway, I've just got back from my holling-days.

I was told many years ago that if you ever go to New Zealand, it is like the UK about 30 years before with Austin Cambridges and Ford Populars roaming the streets - I was told this in the 1980s.

Anyway, I didn't go to New Zealand.

I went to the Greek island of Domestos.

Actually, I went to the Greek island of Zykanthos - also known as Zante - it was very good.

Although there were many cars from the UK about 20-30 years before.

Like this early Disco:

And millions of hateful little Hyundai Amicas and Atozes (or whatever the plural of Atoz is) - I hope they are ex-rental vehicles because the state of them, especially the Atozes was very poor.

But they were still running.

There were quite a few turn-of-the-Century Primera saloons too - not a popular choice of Primera here in the UK.

The big advantage of most of your vehicle stock being that old is that there were VERY FEW CROSS-OVER SUVs!

But, the few that do exist show the driving, and in this case parking skills of your typical cross-over SUV driver:

Note the Kia Pride in this picture taken through a tinted coach window.

They should reintroduce the Pride name - it would be popular with the LGBTQ+ community.

There are also quite a few seemingly abandoned cars about the island - like this BMW...

...and some sort of Toyota parked up next to it.

Talking of abandoned (or ripe for restoration) Toyotas - look at this Celica GT Liftback:

Then there is this (very much not abandoned) car that looks like it may need some bodywork - it looks at first glance that it has been shot at or just badly corroded but it has actually been adorned with Zakynthos "evil" eyes:

Finally on this holiday report, returning to that Discovery from before, you will notice a motorbike parked next to it.

Lots of people, myself included, took a photo or two of it.

Its owner would have been very pleased that people were taking so much interest in it - it was a de-badged, bit customised jobbie that I don't know enough about motorbikes to be able to identify.

I do know however, that it wasn't any of these:

• A Brough Superior
• A Vincent Black Shadow
• A Honda Cub 50
• The Flying Millyard
• The Millyard Viper
• A Lambretta
• A BSA Bantam
• A Honda Goldwing
• A Harley Davidson Electra Glide
• An Easy Rider-style Chopper

If you asked be what it was, I'd probably have to give the answer that car people hate most when they ask someone what make of car it is that they are wanting to tell us a story about:

"It was a black one"

And in this case, it is irrelevant because everybody was photographing this little chap who was sitting on the bike:

This is Judith Chalmers signing off - hope you enjoyed the show.

Feeling Firsty

Autocar News annoys me at times.

They like to do slideshows.

But then they repeat them.

Again and again.

So I normally ignore them - but something made me revisit one today (and several days in the past) entitled, The first-ever cars of the world's most famous car-makers.

Several of the car-makers seem to have two or three first-ever cars - Jaguar, Skoda and Ford for example - so I haven't a clue what licence they've taken with their definitions.

But when I read the Volvo one, I realised that someone with a sense of humour had been in there.  Check this out.

Meanwhile, the first Fiat was the 4HP of 1899 and the first Tesla was the Roadster of 2008.

Which brings me to the following creation which is apparently the work of someone called @carbreeding.

I don't like the Fiat Multipla because it is pig-ugly and I don't like Elon Musk because he is a right-wing, ranting individual who has completely lost the plot.

But I really like the Cyberpla:

Where are they now?

During a recent conversation in the pub and a quick search on The Internet, I found out that a couple of showjumpers I used to watch on The Horse of The Year Show back in my distant youth are still alive.  David Broome and Harvey Smith are both in their mid-eighties.

The conversation diverged and I looked up former Top Gear presenter William Woollard.

He is also alive and in his mid-eighties.

Although, if you believe his Wikipedia page (and it isn't convinced itself), he was looking extremely frail 14 years ago.

So, what about the other former TG presenters?

It may be a false memory, but I think I can remember Angela Rippon presenting it - I am more certain about remembering Noel Edmonds.

Angela has, rather disappointingly had a stint on GB News alongside drunk-driver (and definitely NOT a TG presenter) Alistair Stewart.

She now does an advert alongside a Albert Einstein impersonator - not sure what it is for but it's got something to do with energy.

Of this lot, Tiff Needell and Chris Goffey have both appeared recentlyish on a couple of my favourite YouTube Channels (Late Brake Show and idriveaclassic respectively) looking a lot older but still going strong.  Meanwhile, Steve Berry has just started up is own channel - Steve Berry's Big in the Nineties.

In it, he gets angry every week and mentions that he used to present Top Gear and drives a car from that decade in a very entertaining package.

He also appears to be turning into Bob Mortimer - especially in the Audi A6 C5 Avant episode where he compounds it by attempting a North-East accent.

I have liked and subscribed.

Paddy, who I DO REALLY LIKE JUST NOT PRESENTING TOP GEAR OR QUESTION OF SPORT, was on Who Do You Think You Are? last week - that was enjoyable and he found out his ancestry was Irish - who would have thought that?

Next Thursday also sees the return of Vicki & Rory in Fifth Gear on Quest and the return of Jeremy, James & Richard in the last ever Grand Tour on Amazon Prime.

Shame it has to end.

We don't know if Top Gear TV has ended but we do know who the general public (as opposed to the car-fanatical public) remember the most.

Crash Course Car

It's not the first time I've reported an unsafe safety car.

But unlike in that instance, this was an experienced Safety Car driver (and ex DTM driver)

He's somewhat damaged this Aston Martin Vantage Course Car...

...rather spectacularly:

Doesn't look like a mechanical failure so just an embarrassing one.

Nobody was hurt.

In 100 years time, will this be a vintage Vantage?

Being Zippy...

 

...but not being annoying.

Because, let's face it, Zippy was pretty annoying.

Not wet like George.

But if Donald Trump were a pre-school TV personality, he would be Zippy.

(or am I being unkind to Zippy?)

Anyway, zipping into traffic is the non-annoying thing to do.

Look at this story from Auto Express today explaining how we should be using what lots of countries call  "The Zipper Manoeuvre" when two lanes merge into one.

Even The Highway Code tells us to do it.

The trouble is, while out in their cars, our continental cousins view themselves as "the traffic", whereas us Brits see ourselves as individuals battling against all of the other inferior drivers.  That is why Smart Motorways were never going to work in Britain.

Not me, of course - although I do witness a huge number of inferior drivers every day on the M53.

Strange that.

At Junction 5 heading South, the M53 goes from three lanes down to two.  It is well signposted that it is going to happen but there is no signage about how to deal with it.

So, a fair distance before it actually happens, everyone gets into the two left hand lanes apart from a very small number of drivers who tear down lane 3 until the last minute.  Sometimes they are allowed to merge in and sometimes they encounter a stubborn group of people staring straight ahead while attempting to keep 5cm from the rear bumper of the vehicle ahead.

This means that the ones getting most annoyed are actually those driving in the most annoying way.

And the ones doing the annoying are right.

So the others should just zip it.

Cross about fines

Four different motoring stories have appeared at the front of the BBC News Website today.

The first one (link here) is basically a non-story but it probably got there because it is about London.  Although, having said that, the victims weren't from London.  Basically, the ANPR cameras used at the Dartford Crossing were sometimes providing blurred images which meant that the number plates were being mis-read and fines for non-payment were being sent out to people who hadn't driven through it.

It got Vs and Ys mixed up and Cs and Gs and Os and Ds.

I should be worried as Y, G and O all appear in my registration number.

But given we are talking a small number of mistakes out of 55 million journeys, I won't be shelling out for a private plate just yet.

Then again, given the technology used, surely they could tell if a number plate didn't match the vehicle on the photo and then give those few cases to a human being to manually check.  In the case of one complainant - a woman who fell victim of the C & G scenario, the BBC state that:

 "The vehicle pictured was remarkably similar to hers, a silver Honda Jazz, while Eleanor drives a silver Honda CRG"

No she doesn't.  There's no such thing.

She might drive a Honda CRV - she looks like she might.  But I thought you were supposed to get Vs mixed up with Ys not with Gs.

Anyway, here's a silver Honda Jazz.

and here's a much larger silver CRV...

Not seeing a remarkable similarity myself.

Story number 2 involves learner drivers who are fed up with waiting times, so they are booking practical tests through brokers who block-book and re-sell the tests for hundreds of pounds.

My local Test Centre, according to their story, has a wait if 9.5 weeks, or 2 months in real money.

Quite a few centres though have a wait of 24 weeks, or 4 months.

"The test time, location and provisional licence number can be changed at any time, making it easy to rebook or re-sell driving test slots."

Right, well there's the solution - the provisional licence number should be fixed on booking - no changes, only refunds - problem solved.

Story number 3 involves the exploitation of a Nissan Micra with a failed rear axle.

As Frankie Howerd used to say, "Don't mock the afflicted!"

But Banksy has done just that with his take on the Suzuki Jimny spare wheel cover.

I've just taken a stroll down that road on Google StreetView and it's a public road so I hope that car is taxed or it could get towed and then you'd be left with a rhino in mid-jump.

I suppose then it could become a photo opportunity for people to park their own vehicle, wheelie-bin, pram, wife etc. there.

And the fourth story is a boring one about potholes.  Although Alan from Macclesfield has climbed into one which makes a change from the usual photos of local Tory councillors pointing at one.

Also Not A1

Unlike Monday's story, this is not about the A1.

Although it does involve cameras.

But not BBC ones.

No, this is about AI - which depending on your font, will look like A1.

This is about the Auto Express story about old enemies Devon and Cornwall (scone debate anyone?) getting together to use AI to view camera footage and catch drivers using mobile phones illegally.

I'm all for this - mainly because I never use a hand-held mobile phone while driving.

Now I just need a motoring story in a day or two about someone called Al.

Not A1

 Take a look at this:

It's happened before that people making a film about how a road is an accident blackspot have managed to capture some live evidence.

The BBC managed it here.

There is so much wrong in this scenario and while the Seat driver will get the blame - after all the Seat went in to the Tesla - the Tesla I think is actually at fault.

Firstly, why are they driving along in the overtaking lane?  And then why slow down?  And why no brake lights?  Do you not get brake lights if using regen braking?  I don't actually know the answer to that but there is a major design fault there if you don't.

I'm assuming they slowed down to let the little grey car (Peugeot?) onto the A1.  Did they flash to say join?  If so, that's not what a flash of the headlights means.  As with any such junction, it is up to the vehicle joining to make sure it is safe, not for others to let them in (although there is nothing wrong with a little road courtesy when it is safe to do so)  And that little grey car will have been extra cautious after already having crossed one carriageway of an obviously very busy A-Road.

And that road layout is bloody dangerous!

But then that was what they were trying to prove.

A spokesman for National Highways is quoted as saying, "We'll continue to keep the safety on the stretch of road under continual review and work with the local community on any future safety improvements."

Oh, well, all's well that ends well.  Nothing to see here.

Apart from an accident every week.

Sylvia Back From The Dead

 

That's the gist of this story from the The Mercury News in May 2019.

So what's that got with cars?  Well, despite Mercury being a famous American car brand, absolutely nothing.

Actually, it was this article yesterday from my favourite Aussie car site that piqued my interest - they claim that a Nissan Silvia return is hinted.  And then go on to say why it is unlikely.  They also point at the Top Gear website who say that a new Silvia "could" be on the horizon in this piece and then go on to say that it is "far fetched."

If, and that seems to be a very large "if", it does happen, it will be electric.

That's OK - I believe that it is already possible to create exciting, well-handling and fast electric cars.

I also suspect Nissan wouldn't besmirch a beloved car name by making it an SUV.

It may also be why Nissan's future should be rosier than Ford's.

Capri anyone?

Wall of Death

Auto Express have an interesting article today.

They state that "A new study reveals that one in ten single-car crashes involve hitting a wall, according to the latest data from the AA."

I'd like to know where that wall is.

Well, according to the Driving Instructor's Association, the most crashes occur in Kent so, in all probability, that is where it will be.

I bet it is this one:

I'm going to avoid Ramsgate.

Zipping Along

F1 with subtitles.

Or, here in the UK, postcoding along - because we have postcodes rather than zip codes.

And, depending on your postcode, you may be in more or less danger of encountering a driver with points on their licence.

Auto Express enlighten us in this article today.

At first, I thought I lived in the 9th-safest-from-idiots but further examination shows that not only does L64 no longer exist but, when it did, I lived in L46.

I am most concerned, though, that 3 of the 10 worst postcodes for convicted drivers are in Leeds.

My cat is from Leeds.

There is no way I'm letting him behind the wheel.

Drink this in

Is it better to catch criminals or to prevent crime in the first place?

Prevention is allegedly meant to be better than cure.

I suppose you are in danger of putting a lot of prison officers out of work - it may be a while before that is the issue here in the UK though.

The Australians have a bloody good idea along this theme - and it's to do with drink-driving.

Just breathalyse the drivers BEFORE they get in their cars.

Drive.com.au have the story here.

Although the Brummies were doing it 10 years earlier.

Another good thing about this idea is it means that the cops can have a swift half while they are there.

Electric Generation

I am Generation X so I like Ford Capris.

My children are Generation Z so they like Instagram - or, as those of us down with the kids know it, Insta.

There is news this week of electric cars for both groups this week.

Autocar and Auto Express are both reporting the new Ford Capri which is set to be launched in a couple of weeks...

No, that doesn't look much like a Ford Capri to me either.

Meanwhile, Jack from The Fully Charged Show, takes us on a tour of the Hyundai Insta - sorry the Hyundai Inster.

Both of these are cross-over SUVs, or as I prefer to call them, stupid cross-over SUVs.

Just like with the Mustang, Ford will be cashing in on classic car names to flog large numbers of vehicles to people who don't know much about cars.  And they will succeed while seriously turning off the real car fans to the brand.  Just look at he comments under articles about the new Capri.

Here's the only electric Capri that I approve of - I have one in my loft.

Meanwhile, Gen Z are getting a pretty decent car by the look of it - and check out the comments under Jack's piece.

What does this leave for the other generations?

I predict the forthcoming Honda Dailymail for the Boomers and the Mazda Dawsonscreek for the Millennials.

We are supposedly up to Generation Alpha now.

They can have the Tesla Heyduggie.

Dead Cert.

Here's a picture of jockey Frank Hayes astride Sweet Kiss in the 1923 Belmont Park Steeplechase.

You could this a picture of Schrödinger's Jockey.

Because at some point during that race (and nobody is sure when) - he died of a heart attack.

But, since living horse with deceased jockey still attached crossed the finish line in first place, the bookies had to pay out at 20-1.

I don't know how popular drag racing is with bookies (this is motoring blog after all so I must have been leading somewhere with that story)  I think it may be legal but here's a discussion in Autoweek from 2022 on the subject.  In that, 16-time Funny Car champion, John Force said, “If it’s a way to generate revenue, why not?"

What the hell is a Funny Car Champion!?  Excuse me while I look it up...

...ah, so it's one of these:

I had a Matchbox one of those as a child - never realised it was an actual thing.

Anyway, John Force is getting on a bit now - he's 75 in fact - but still drag racing - and a lot luckier than Frank Hayes - check this out:

And while he did cross the winning line first while still attached to his transport - and also very much alive, thank goodness - it was only because his opponent slowed down. Surely there should be some rule about on infringing on your opponent's track space?

He was awarded the win so the bookies should be paying out.

Any other betting stories in the news this week?

Slowing down electric cars

This isn't a story about regenerative braking.

I don't seem to quote many Autoguide stories these days - maybe because they don't put out as many as the other sites I like.  But here's one that is quite interesting for its contents AND for it in itself.

It is written by "AutoGuide.com News Staff" rather than by an individual.

And that is probably because "This article was co-written using AI and was then heavily edited and optimized by our editorial team."  Sounds like more effort than usual to create an article and that the longer term plan will be to do away with the editorial team once the AI has learnt to do the job properly.

Maybe I should look into AI for my blog.  And then if someone else could develop an AI to read my Blog, it could save everyone a load of time.

Anyway, the article is titled,

Ford Kills Key EV Program

What!?  Ford are stopping EV production!?

Well they can stop that one for a start - how dare they call that a Mustang!?

No, the key word there is "key".  The Key EV Program was one whereby US Ford dealers were told to invest huge sums of money to be certified, and therefore permitted, to sell EVs.

Somebody has noticed that EV sales have significantly slowed down and, meanwhile, unhappy dealers were starting lawsuits against the program.

Even governments are noticing that plans to outlaw all petrol & diesel only cars by 2040 may be ambitious.  Perhaps the advent of solid state batteries (circa 2028) will help but there are too many uncertainties that need to become certainties in the next 16 years.  

Now, I just need to end this piece in a succinct and amusing way - how do you log into ChatGPT?

A Bodge for Rodney

Rodney Street is quite famous in Liverpool.

It's where the doctors live.

Or at least where they practice.

They ought to be quite good by now.

It's a very historic road that gets used for period dramas - but, according to the BBC, the pavements are losing their character because the traditional flagstones are being replaced with bitumen.

A council spokesman is quoted as saying, "Despite regular enforcement, drivers often park partly on the pavement on Rodney Street and we use tarmac to carry out repairs in this location because it is more durable, hard wearing and needs less maintenance."

It's also cheaper.

Oh, and just to clarify for any Americans out there:

What you call the pavement (the paved bit you're meant to drive on) is what we call the carriageway.

And what we call the pavement is what you call the sidewalk (the bit at the side that you walk on)

Solid State Drive

This, I reckon, is a game-changer from Nissan.

And just like the solid state bit means you have solid stuff where the moving stuff should be in a disk drive, solid state batteries have solid stuff where the sloshy stuff should be.

Autocar have an interesting piece on it today.  The technology in there today but Nissan claim that they will be able to mass-produce them at a reasonable cost. 

And it would mean lighter EVs with longer range.

That cost less.

And EVs using them could be in production by 2028.

But are they less damaging to the environment that the current lithium-ion EV batteries?  And less prone to igniting?

The article doesn't tell us.

But this one from New Scientist last October does.

Apparently, they are less damaging to the environment that the current lithium-ion EV batteries and they are less prone to igniting.

And Toyota has made a breakthrough that will allow “game-changing” solid-state batteries to go into production by 2028.

Nomenclature

What is a veteran?

And is a Viet Vet a veterinarian from Vietnam?

Yes, that really is a photograph of a Vietnamese veterinarian.  But this is a car blog so what is a veteran car?  Online dictionaries define it as a car from either before  1919 or before 1905.  The 1905 date fits in with cars eligible for the London to Brighton Veteran Car Run so let's go with that.

So what is a vintage car?  Wikipedia claims that car enthusiasts and collectors say that it is a car from the period of 1919 to 1930.

Wikipedia may be wrong - let's say it is 1905 to 1930.

So anything 1931 to 1970 is just an old car?

That sounds wrong too.

But I certainly wouldn't call 1975 vintage.

This means I have a different view to my favourite Aussie site drive.com.au

Here is their story of a Victorian man (which would make him a veteran) crashing his classic (I think that's the word they should be using rather than "vintage") Holden Torano into a Hyundai i30.

What a tit.

When you read the story, you find that it's the un-named Facebook user they quote who get's the right nomenclature stating, “Some people don’t deserve to own a classic."

And I feel more sorry for the Hyundai driver.

Meanwhile the Holden needs fixing up and being sold to a more discerning owner of a sensible vintage.

They've taken the shine off Top Gear Magazine.

It's June 1st!  This means that the July issue of Top Gear Magazine has appeared in my porch.

I knew it was going to be different.  In the June edition, the regular columnists, Andy Franklin, Paul Horrell and Sam Philip pointed out that they were doing their last columns for the magazine.  They haven't been sacked or anything, but recently appointed editor-in-chief Jack Rix has decided that it is time to stamp his own style on the publication and shift a few things around - although he chooses not to mention it in his regular introduction piece.

Columnists in the past have often been the Top Gear TV presenters - notably, at it's peak, Clarkson, Hammond & May. And, more recently Chris Harris - but never Flintoff or McGuinness - maybe because THEY ARE NOT MOTORING JOURNALISTS!

Clarkson, Hammond & May were columnising back in 2010 when I last reported on a revamp of the mag.  That coincided with the recently outgone editor-in-chief first taking over.  The magazine has evolved in those 14 years and we have now lost a couple of features that I really liked such as Mark Riccioni's monthly bemoaning of his fleet of vehicles and the monthly history of a different car manufacturer (although last month the manufacturer was Lego)

The new columnists are Mike Channell (Radio Active anyone?) who I fear is going to be talking about gaming every month, Jethro Bovington who they have been trying to get us used to for a while now and Natalie Pinkham who I fear is going to be talking about F1 every month.

Oh yes, and she's a woman.

Going back to 2010, the magazine was printed on glossy paper.  Magazines in general used to be referred to as "the glossies."

You can't call them that now because most of them aren't.  Cost cutting.  Top Gear lost its glossiness many years ago but at least the front and back covers were still glossy.

Until today.  Look how dull and lifeless it looks in my photo.

It's lost its shine - inside and out?

In 2010 I asked and answered these questions...

So, is it a change for the worse?

No.

Is it a change for the better?

Dunno.

Is it change for change's sake?

Maybe.

Can you spare some change?

Go away.

Today I say...

So, is it a change for the worse?

Maybe.

Is it a change for the better?

Not so far.

Is it change for change's sake?

Maybe.

Can you spare some change?

Go away.

Hmmm.

Shocking Name

I keep hearing a Toyota advert on the radio.  They are trying to make it exciting.

It isn't.

It's an electric SUV.

I mean, just look at it.

But to make it even more difficult for the woman doing the voice-over, the car is called the bZ4X.  You can tell she is struggling when she says it.

Anyway, talking of electric cars and stupid naming, would you name a charging network after what happens when you get an electric shock?

Jolt have.

And they're giving away free electricity.

And their charging points look exciting.