Just yesterday afternoon, I was sitting with my wife, watching the TV, enjoying the Italian F1 Grand Prix.
Unfortunately, that enjoyment was somewhat marred by “eejits” tear-arsing along the roads at the back of our house.
The volume of their engine/exhaust systems sufficient to drown out the race commentary.
Sure, I could close my doors and windows, but why should I? These hoons are impinging their antisocial activities on my home from several hundred feet away. I should be able to enjoy a warm summer Sunday afternoon in the comfort of my own home without these eejits spoiling it.
So, I was somewhat surprised to read this in today’s “The News”. The focus of the article is aimed at the posh prats in their Ferrari, Lamborghini, and Maclaren supercars who terrorise Nightsbridge in London.
“The News” is our local paper, and I would expect the articles to prioritise local issues. However, anything that highlights this current blight on society as a whole has to be viewed as a positive thing.
Pat does however point out that the police do have the power to to take action against the hoons.
I understand that the police are desperately understaffed. But perhaps they could alternate from setting up speed traps to setting up sound traps. As I stated in a previous post, the police know where the hoons gather, where they run. As to funding, just how much does a sound gone cost as opposed to a radar gun ?
Jon Cole, I empathise with you and your experience. I, too, live in an area plagued by these motoring miscreants.
And also, wish the police and local authorities would focus more time on these “law breakers.” For law breakers, they are, with their modified engines and exhaust systems which are exceeding the noise limits of the original manufacturers specifications.
As to their manner of driving, be it excess acceleration or drifting local roundabouts and motorway slip roads to the point their tyres are screeching, they must be breaking numerous laws. Just by ear, I can tell that they are probably speeding and driving in an unsafe manner.
The police know the popular routes and would only need to make their presence known regularly to make an impression.
Preparatory works are getting underway to provide the necessary road junctions to support Welborne Garden Village.
And so begin the many months of road chaos that these works are guaranteed bring. The reference article details dates and times of road closures and diversions.
We have only just seen the end of the M27 “Smart Motorway” conversion work, which in itself created months of holdups, especially at peak times.
I am so glad that being retired means I no longer have the daily commute, which would have been impacted by this new round of works.
It wasn’t so long ago that the UK government was floating the idea of taxing businesses for the parking spaces provided for their employees. This would also have been applied to supermarkets and other commercial premises.
This seems to be a much better use of the land. Being beneficial to all and taking some of the load of our energy producers.
Seems to me a close look should be taken at the “Havant Hypermarket” site, aka ASDA Supercentre. Another prime contender for power generation.
I am pleased to see that finally the council is doing something positive about the dire state of Waterlooville centre. But, I fear it is too little, too late.
I also believe the council is being, somewhat, disingenuous, blaming the pandemic for the current state of Waterlooville Town centre.
Waterlooville has been slowly decomposing since the main road was diverted, and the centre was pedestrianised.
Yes, the pandemic has not helped, and yes, the current economic difficulties are compounding the issues. Long before the pandemic, traders were complaining about the cost of leasing the shop units. Costs that due to falling footfall they could not afford to renew.
I would like to know what the council is doing to mitigate the high tenancy costs.
The Havant Borough Council planning authorities have been gung ho on taking business away from the town centre. Following the out-off town shopping model that they have also applied to Havant itself. Both Havant and Waterlooville have been subdivided. Large stores on one side of the highway whilst the smaller shops left in town struggle to keep going.
Making monies available to assist potential businesses to get a foothold will be a fruitless exercise without custom.
The recent change of car parking charges will help, but again, I fear it is too late. Especially now that Wilkos has gone bust.
Yes, you can now park for up to three hours but Wilkos was prime reason for many folks to park there.
Sunday was the last Breakfast Club for 2023. As usual, there was a great turnout of both classic cars and spectators.
As usual, I’m posting a few photos from my visit.
First up then is this Gordon-Keeble. A British car marque with a local base, The original concept was conceived in Slough, and construction was in Eastleigh, near Southampton. Build took place between 1964 and 1967.
1964 Gordon Keeble
Oddly, the cars badge features a tortoise. The story goes that a pet tortoise walked into frame at a photo shoot and was chosen as the emblem.
And now for something completely different. Here, we have a Daimler Scout Car, known in service as the Daimler Dingo. It is a British light (3 tonnes), fast four-wheel drive reconnaissance vehicle.
Powered by a 2.5 litre 6 cylinder engine with 5 forward and 5 reverse gears, it was capable of speeds up to 55 mph. Although, speaking to the owner, this would be a noisy experience for the driver and scary, too, as stopping could be an issue. This vehicle only has drum brakes !!
No, this next one isn’t an aircraft carrier. Although it seems big enough. All I know is that it is a Ford
Ford ?
Oh, and 302 CI (cubic inches) equates to around 5 litres.
Next up is a rare beast. It’s a Rover P6 3500 Estoura. It was never a production car with only around 160 conversions having been completed.
Rover P6 3500 “Estoura”
Bought new in 1973 for around £2000 the conversion cost was just under £700.
I don’t really know much about this next car. I had to Google it, and this is what I believe it to be.
Austin Seven Mulliners Style Boat Tail 1938
An Austin Seven Mulliners Style Boat tail c1938. Providing a truly minimalist driving experience.
The Citroën 2CV, in French deux chevaux i.e. “two horses.” It was designed with the french farmer in mind to replace the ubiquitous horse and cart. It was literally designed to cross a freshly ploughed field with a basket full of eggs on the passenger’s seat without breaking them. Due, at that time, to a lack of paved roads in France. The 2CV was produced from 1948 to 1990.
1956 CITROËN 2CV ‘RALLYE’
A bit of a wolf in sheep’s clothing. The Triumph Vitesse looked just like it’s cousin, the Triumph Herald. But under the bonnet, the Vitesse had a straight 6 with twin carburettors.
c1966 Triumph Vitesse
Available in either a 1600cc or 2000cc version. I was lucky enough to own a 1600 version for a couple of years until the differential failed. Sadly, at the time, I couldn’t afford to pay for it to be repaired, and with no willing buyers, I had to scrap the car.
One of the prettiest sports cars ever produced was the mid-engined Lotus Europa. Produced from the mid 60’s until the mid 70’s, nearly 10,000 cars were produced.
Lotus Europa
Just look at the beautiful flowing lines of this next example, a classic Jaguar XK120, presented here in racing trim.
Jaguar XK120
Potentially worth in excess of £300,000
Back across the channel to France for another beautiful car. The Citroen Traction Avant.
Citoen Traction Avant
The Avant was one of the first production cars to incorporate front-wheel drive, a monocoque body construction, and all-round independent suspension.
Here, putting in a rare appearance is Russian GAZ M21 Volga saloon. Produced between 1956 thru 1970
GAZ M21 Volga
And that is it from the Goodwood Breakfast Clubs for this year. Of course, there were many more vehicles on show. I have barely scratched the surface.
The Breakfast Club events are always good value for money as they are free. Even the car parks are worth strolling around as many more classics are there to be seen
I have posted this BBC news item because my granddaughter is one of the Etsy victims. Etsy currently owes her several hundreds of pounds, and she is the sole earner in her household.
My granddaughter is running a small baked goods business. How is she supposed to stay in business while she pays up front for the ingredients, packaging, and postal / courier services, but Etsy withholds the money from her customers for 45 days.
Not only do they withhold the money, but when they do release the money, they drip feed the payments in the same order that the original customer orders were made.
Let’s also not forget that Etsy charges a transaction fee of 6.5% per sale. Compared to around 3% as charged by Amazon.
Those cynics amongst us might think that Etsy are in financial difficulties if, as has been reported, they have no good reason for withholding payments and are holding onto sellers money ???
Through their actions, many people are struggling to survive, while presumably Etsy are reaping the benefits of interest earned on those withheld payments.
WrAnTz 