enforcer

So what happened to your friend in the end Tom?

Your friend was utterly reckless to have set cruise control to nearly 30 mph over the speed limit - this would be a significant aggravating factor in any sentencing - it's one thing to inadvertently exceed the speed limit during an overtake, for example, but to knowingly set it that high and arrogantly assume that he won't get a ban by being 1 mph under the 'banning speed' is just crazy. No arguments about the road being quiet, the weather being good, the skill and experience of the driver will stand up I'm afraid. There is no statutory defence to speeding. You cannot possibly imagine the sort of carnage that a collision at this speed causes - trust me, once seen it can never be unseen. Even if the body remains mostly intact the rapid deceleration will tear the internal organs out and burst the heart. The airbags will merely provide your friend's loved ones with an intact body to bury. Assuming that it wasn't cremated in situ. That fact that your friend doesn't see this as dangerous is unbelievable arrogance. Whether there is a prosecution or not I hope that this experience and the associated anxiety has been a real wake up call for your friend and that in future he will be less reckless with other peoples' lives, let alone his own.

28 years clean licence, police class one advanced, pursuit trained, defensive tactic trained, TPAC etc etc and I can now proudly say that I have attended a Speed Awareness Course after being caught doing 35 mph in a 30. There is no excuse or defence for speeding. End of. We are all human and we make mistakes but I can honestly say that I learned a great deal from my course (and I was a Traffic Officer for 5 years) and it has changed the way I drive. Maybe I was lucky enough to do a course with an excellent provider, but its pretty arrogant for people to imply that their course was a waste of time... sounds like they will inevitably be caught again pretty soon... It's not a conviction so you don't have to declare it. I'd take the course any day of the week ;-) Interesting to note that my course was filled entirely with middle-aged professionals, including bikers and truckers. Someone remarked that it was clearly us older folk who are speeders these days, not the 'boy racers'. The course instructor reassured us that the young speeders tend not to be eligible for the course as they are caught doing much higher speeds generally and don't get the offer!

Awkward. Would love to share my take on this but can't be commenting on such a political issue

Ha! I was the only one wondering why everyone else was freezing! Mind you my smugness didn't last long ... we don't talk about the chafing and I STILL have scars from it!

Congratulations fella! Great going ... and good to see you tackled Silverstone this year ... best running medal in my collection! You might have seen me there, running in my 'work clothes' to raise money for a charity that I'm chairman of now... http://www.thegeorgiawilliamstrust.org

Hey Ian Never missed one yet ... sorry didn't get around to catching up this time ;-)

Common sense prevailed it seems.

Not sure about the legality of selling a V5 but it would come down to what the buyer plans to do with the V5. Anyone seeking for their no-IVA'd kit to 'assume' the identity of the hood on the V5 would be committing a number of fraud offences and of course (and frankly worse) would be putting a completely untested vehicle on the road. Anyone looking to sell a V5 for £1500 is well aware of what some unscrupulous builder would be prepared to pay to by-pass IVA

Now why would anyone pay £1500 for one of these? http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/221448212537?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2648&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

It's gone back to Lucas to be given a new life!

All sorted thanks to Euro Car Parts Telford - one shiny new starter bolted on and spinning like a good'un and only £55 with the club discount

Thanks Florin - I did dismantle and investigate and found that one of the couple electrodes in the armature/commutator had disintegrated/corroded, probably where the engine has been standing for the past 6 months? This meant that depending on where the spinning motor came to rest it either would or wouldn't turn over. The brushes looked pretty well shot and there was quite a bit of play in the bushes - shiny new starter will give me more peace of mind ... as long as Euro Car Parts can come up with the one I need.

Didn't even realise that there was a branch in Telford! Only been here 13 years!! They haven't got one but will have one in next week Thanks again

Cheers for that CMA. The one I need is out of stock though :-( Perhaps other models might still fit though

Here's another pic .... does anyone know a Lucas or QH part number?

After my original starter died after the winter lay up I'm struggling to find a source for new/reconditioned ones. This is the starter: Can anyone share a link to a place where I can get one, or failing that does anyone have a good spare they would be willing to sell? Car is a standard 1988 2.0 pinto sierra (carbs). 10 tooth pinion. Cheers Rich

I recall that Richard's quoted torque setting for this bolt was 'supersonic'

http://www.liveleak....=f8f_1369958174 Tighten yer nuts folks!

Police don't shoot to kill or shoot to injure. They are trained to shoot to 'stop', which is what they did. In most cases that proves fatal. Considering the main suspect with the meat cleaver had almost reached the Trojan car and appears to have been shot by an officer as they got out of the rear of the car in a split second I very much doubt that there would have been any consideration of shooting them to injure them only.

I had my MOT today and passed without issue as usual thanks to a friendly and sympathetic examiner. He told me about all the new regs (although thankfully not many applied to my car), but also said that the system had yet to be updated, so he couldn't technically fail me on any of the issues? Some of it sounded a bit SVA, such as checking the fixing and security of wiring etc, and also the function of the speedo , including the fact that it is illuminated etc. Checked the fog light and the handbrake warning light. Didn't seem to take any longer than usual though. Nice drive out in the sunshine but god it was cold!

Go on then. PM in your inbox...

Nuts! And I had an MOT booked on Thursday morning especially! Not sure if I'll make the 23rd June - I'm running "The Wall" - 69 mile Ultramarathon from Carlisle to Newcastle on Saturday 22nd so very much doubt I'd even be able to get in the car the next morning! I'l bear it in mind though; you never know. Seems a bit strange though, to be cancelling so far ahead due to the weather, but I expect they're anticipating it to become a quagmire after the thaw.

Agreed. I do know that Matt does a huge amount of free work to keep this forum going - far more I'm sure than any of us appreciate. I'm sure there'll be an official comment in due course. For the record, I've never seen this pop-up. I use Chrome and am permanently logged in ... no problem.

Steve, sounds like we'll be donning the cardigans and buying Werthers Originals at the same time ... Sept 2018 for me!