If you’re from around the Manchester / North West area of the UK
then the sound of Steve Berry’s northern tones is how many of us wake up in the
morning with his breakfast show on Real Radio XS. Most though will recognise
him from his 10 year stint on Top Gear or his books and regular contribution to
various papers and magazines. So there’s no denying his passion and enthusiasm
for all things automotive, to be honest he just sweeps you along with it.
Well he’s started a new on-line radio show, Steve Berry’s Speed
Shop on FAB Radio International, which as he says at the start “isn’t for the
casually interested, this is a place for enthusiasts, we’re not afraid to be talking
about carburettors and crankshafts…..” with that I knew this was going to be
good.
The self-drive cars been around for many years, here’s GM’s
take on it from 1956. To be honest there’s a few predictions that are currently
on production vehicles, changeable displays, communications and navigation. Thankfully
a singing operator isn’t one of them-
Okay I’m guilty I do love some of the modern gadgets and
comforts of my new company car, the DAB radio that tells you the band and track
name of the song playing, steering wheel controls, 60mpg and integrated satnav,
but when did all that comfort and convenience become more important than the
driving?
Now I’m all one for not spending money on expensive, usually
over complicated, solutions to simple problems, this though has to one of
either the best applications to cost saving for a military vehicle or,
depending on where your looking from, one of the worst!!!!
The basic premise was to produce a light weight vehicle that
would be parachuted in to an armed conflict and no doubt cause as much damage
as possible. For the British this may have been the lightweight Land Rover or
for the US a Jeep. France though had other ideas. To be fair this looks far
more terrifying!!!!!
Well we’re 5 years old today, thank you for all those who
have liked the Facebook, Google+ and Twitter pages and keep coming back. Please
don’t forget to share anything you like to make sure more petrolheads can find
us.
Plans for the next year include some more museums, car shows
(Ultimate Dubs, The Retro Show, Manchester Classic and many more), a factory
tour and many more rare/odd/unusual vehicles.
Now we’ve all seen those YouTube links on Facebook showing
what can only be described as an incredible labours of love, what am I talking
about? Well those scaled working engines. Hundreds of parts redeuced down and
created on lathes from blocks of metal with such dedication and skill that the
detail and hundreds if not thousands of hours are a marvel to behold. Now have
you ever looked at these and thought “I would love one of those?” well you can.
Coachbuilder Crayford were commissioned by a Triumph dealer,
Page Motors (notice the dealer logo on the side) to convert the 2 seater TR7
into a sporting brake the Tracer was the result.
