Stamps, then. The last time I dabbled seriously in stamp culture was in elementary school. I had stamp books aplenty. The family bathroom would be hijacked for hours as I placed slightly wet sponges on letters and postcards my family had received and stashed over the decades. Traveling one square inch at a time. To the Cayman Islands, to Ghana, to Botswana. To wherever.

Formula One back then was epic and brutal battles between Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost, riding their McLaren–Honda MP4/4’s to victory in 15 out of 16 races, faltering only in the House of Ferrari one month after Enzo’s death at the age of 90. I did not follow Formula One back then. Sauropods and the woodlouse Porcellio scaber were infinitely more interesting.

Nineteen years later, Royal Mail—the postal service of the United Kingdom—issued a set of six stamps commemorating Britain’s Formula One greats. It was the summer of 2007 and Britain had already given the world eight world champions, more than any other nation. Lewis Hamilton would eventually become #9, but not in his rookie year of 2007, oh no. In his rookie year, he was so busy trying not to beat but to bloody vanquish his teammate Fernando Alonso at the penultimate race in Brazil that he handed the championship to Kimi Räikkönen. This was back when, unlikely as it may sound today, Stirling Moss called him a humble young man, reminiscent of his 50s teammate at Mercedes-Benz, five-time world champion Juan Manuel Fangio.

Sir Stirling, of course, never won the world championship. Still, and in a manner that would be impossible to defend by statistics or rationale, he is the greatest Grand Prix driver the United Kingdom has ever produced. You may wonder why, when British racers who have won world championships include:

1. Graham Hill, who won thrice, and wore the coolest mustache this side of Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq
2. James Hunt, who has video evidence proving him to be the coolest man who has ever existed. Plus, he used to attend official functions in jeans and sans shoes
3. Jim Clark, who was Luke Skywalker disguised as a sheep farmer
4. Jackie Stewart, who, if mathematically possible, is even cooler than Hunt

And so on.

But then study this photo of Sir Stirling driving the stuff of legend beside Denis Jenkinson in the 1955 Mille Miglia. Study it carefully. Zoom in if necessary:

That’s settled then, isn’t it? As expected, the stamp collection is rather heavy on Moss. Here's what you get when you unfold the complete set:

Six stamps, eight British world champions at the time of publication, plus Moss. So who got the axe? Mike Hawthorn, Le Mans champion and the first Brit to win the Formula One world championship. John Surtees, the only man who have became world champion on both motorcycles and in F1 cars. Oh, and Damon Hill—but then he makes people throw up.

Not exactly slim pickings.

And why? There is no why. At least Royal Mail has no why. Mysterious are the ways of philately.

Photo Credit: Lothar Spurzem (Graham Hill), Daimler Media Services (Stirling Moss and Denis Jenkinson), Royal Mail and the author. Special thanks to Lili Mesterhazy for the stamps and the postcards.

NO BLUE SKIES FOR GREY CAR DRIVERS

Drivers of grey cars are more likely to need roadside assistance than any other coloured vehicle, according to research by digital motoring magazine, imotormag.co.uk.

The study by the free online magazine found that more than one-in-three of the UK’s 1.3 million grey car drivers will call on help from the likes of the AA or RAC to top the UK’s breakdown chart.

The research from imotormag.co.uk also shows that green isn’t the lucky charm some drivers were wishing for. Owners of the nation’s sixth most popular car colour are the second most likely group to require roadside assistance.

With more blue cars on Britain’s roads than any other colour - over 7 million registered - they are nearly 15% less likely to call out a breakdown vehicle than their grey-hued counterparts.

Despite an association with ageing and all things dull and boring, it’s not all bad news and expensive repairs for grey car owners as the major breakdown companies reported the majority of calls received relate to flat batteries and tyre punctures, rather than mechanical failure.

Mat Watson, editor of imotormag.co.uk, said: “The results are genuinely surprising. One theory is that many hire and company car fleets choose grey vehicles as the colour looks newer for longer, with dents and scratches less noticeable. These vehicles are often exposed to very high mileage, so perhaps their chance of needing assistance is greater. Then again, grey cars could just be cursed!”

[Source: iMotorMag.co.uk]

Though some scoff at the expense and the Alex Jones folks don't like being watched, we'd point out that the city is making a big deal of putting up signs at busy locations letting them know the copter is watching them. We think this means it's mostly a bluff intended to get speeders to change their behavior and tickets will likely be handed out by these beautiesmost of the time. [ This Is London photo, Dave Manders/Essex Police]

Press Release From Volvo Special Vehicles

Volvo is unveiling the ultimate factory-built police car today (2 September 2008) at the National Association of Police Fleet Manager’s (NAPFM) Conference in Cheltenham.

The Volvo V70 police car was designed and developed in conjunction with the NAPFM, National Police Improvement Agency, Police Federation and users. Volvo will build the fully equipped V70 estate on the standard production line in Torslanda, Sweden, offering a turn key solution to the British Police Force.

Volvo believes this is the first time a fully equipped frontline UK police car has been available to factory order and is confident of immediate interest from authorities who have been used to a car spending several months having special kit fitted before being able to put it into service. Customers can expect delivery of their Volvo V70 Turn Key police car within 12-14 weeks from their initial order.

All elements of the new Volvo V70 Turn Key police car are factory built for UK forces from the battenburg livery and lightbar to all radio prep/wiring and a master control panel. The factory fitted options list reads slightly differently to usual and includes the VASCAR speed detection system, a police surveillance video camera and a two dog cage.

This is added to Volvo’s already unique tried and tested police chassis, which includes self leveling suspension and special 17.5 inch brakes and reinforced alloy wheels which further improve stopping distances and brake disc cooling.

With Duty of Care being at the top of the wish list for all police authorities, having a car that is fully designed, built and supported in the aftermarket by the manufacturer is another huge plus point for the Volvo V70 Turn Key.

Volvo first announced its intentions to design and build the ultimate Turn Key police car at last year’s NAPFM conference. Now, 12 months on, after taking into consideration the wish lists of all UK police authorities, Volvo has delivered the complete car with a range of petrol, diesel and FlexiFuel engines.

“Volvo has worked with its partners to deliver what police forces want from a typical patrol car and we are confident it will be a big hit. Being able to factory order a car and know it will be ready for immediate action when it arrives is a significant benefit and it also addresses the Duty of Care commitments of police authorities. We believe this car takes the UK police market to a new level,” said Sarah Tottle, Volvo UK’s special vehicles manager.

[Source: Volvo via Automobile]

It took passersby just 30 minutes to strip off the coinage, which will surely be invested responsibly into a coffee can that'll never be touched again. Said a Chevy rep "There have been some great car adverts before, but none that has stopped traffic and actually put money back into the motorist's pocket so this is certainly a first. We're glad we've topped up lots of people's wallets, purses and, in some cases, rucksacks, but it would have been nice for the billboard to last a little longer than 30 minutes."Well, people are greedy bitches. Good thing they issued a press release. [GM Chevy UK via Carscoop]

Princess Margaret's Phantom IV was a gift from Queen Elizabeth II, who had just purchased herself a Rolls Royce Phantom IV Hooper landaulette; she wanted Margaret to have a Phantom IV H.J. Mulliner limousine, just like her first one. How sweet. No word on what kind of mileage the big Rolls limo gets, but with that back seat it sure would make a sweet summer road trip ride.
[Bentleyspotting.com]

ALFA BRERA S - DEVELOPED FOR UK ROADS

Few sports cars are developed specifically for Britain's roads. Those that have been tend to become true 'driver's cars'. Alfa Romeo is planning for the new, limited edition Alfa Brera S to join those ranks.
After a year of intensive suspension and chassis development at Prodrive, the world-leading motorsport specialist, the result is a sports coupe that subtly enhances all that is good about the original Alfa Brera, while bestowing it with outstanding driver feedback and handling.
Distinctly different from the rest of the line-up, this unique addition to Alfa Romeo's UK range includes refined styling changes, inside and out. And to ensure ultimate exclusivity, production of the Alfa Brera S will be limited to just 500 individually numbered models.
Power comes from a choice of two existing direct injection petrol engines - the 185 bhp 2.2 JTS and the 260 bhp 3.2 V6 JTS.
Marketing director at Alfa Romeo UK, Nicholas Bernard, says: "Significantly, the Alfa Brera S isn't simply about brute force, it's about how the available power is transferred to the road and how the road surface is communicated back to the driver to bring new levels of sports handling and driver-focused confidence and involvement."
Briefed to make the Alfa Brera S less of a long-distance tourer and more sporty on UK roads, the engineering team at Prodrive developed a unique suspension set-up. Prodrive engineers meticulously experimented with spring rates and ride heights to match the reduced weights of the 2008 model year Alfa Breras. Then followed an extensive damper tuning exercise to achieve the desired ride/handling balance and steering response required by driving enthusiasts in the UK.
According to Prodrive Project Leader, Peter Cambridge, the result is "a car that 'shrinks' around the driver and delivers all the fun and engagement of a sports car driving experience on A and B-roads. Yet, on motorways, offers a compliant and composed ride."
The sports car driving experience is achieved by reducing roll and pitch, flattening the cornering attitude, and subsequently instilling confidence-inspiring steering.
Peter Cambridge comments: "Our painstaking work with the spring set-up controls exactly how much the car pitches and rolls with every lump, bump, camber and pothole on our roads. Then we developed the dampers to control the rate at which the springs respond. Once we were satisfied with that, we set about really affecting the feel and response of the steering to inspire confidence."
To reduce roll and pitch and achieve an even flatter cornering attitude, Prodrive commissioned bespoke Eibach coil springs and Bilstein dampers.
Spring rates are increased by over 50 per cent compared to the standard Alfa Brera, giving the car a more nimble and agile feel, while the specially tuned gas-filled mono-tube dampers give tighter body control. A careful balance has been created to maintain good compliance over ridges and bumps in the road.
At the same time, the suspension static geometry has also been revised to optimise steering and handling. These changes, together with new 19" alloy wheels and Pirelli PZero Nero tyres, have created a more responsive turn-in to corners, with increased driver feedback, allowing the driver to explore the dynamic limits of the car.
To further enhance suspension geometry, the cars have been lowered by 10 mm front and rear. This lower centre of gravity helps reduce roll and improve cornering and braking performance. In addition, the lowered suspension gives the Alfa Brera S a more purposeful stance.
At each corner of the Alfa Brera S, unique Alfa 8C Competizione-inspired, lightweight 19" alloy wheels have been fitted. Although the wheels are eye-catching, the all-new design was commissioned by Prodrive primarily for performance, rather than just cosmetic appeal. The reason is unsprung weight - the weight carried by the car on the 'road side' of the spring and shock absorber. This plays a significant role in the way the car steers, handles and transmits feedback to the driver.
The lighter the wheel, the better it tracks undulations in the road surface without requiring heavy damping to control it. The unsprung weight has been further reduced by the adoption of hollow anti-roll bars and aluminium suspension components from the Factory.
As a result, the weight of both Alfa Brera S models is lower than the rest of the range. The front-wheel drive 3.2 V6 JTS is almost 100 kg lighter than the Q4 version and the 2.2 JTS version weighs 35 kg less.
The Alfa Brera S also sounds different from the standard range. The original characteristic growl of the V6 has been enhanced by careful redesign of the rear silencers. Thanks to a Holmholtz resonator connected in tandem with each silencer, the 2.2 JTS model now emits a sportier yet refined burble.
The exhaust has been altered to mirror the shape of the rear lights. Finished with chrome embellishers, they feature a Prodrive logo on the tailpipe exterior. This is just one of several subtle exterior enhancements to the award-winning Alfa Brera, including Prodrive branded front stone deflectors, and a bespoke red 'S' or 'SV6' on the C-pillar.
Inside the 3.2 V6 JTS Alfa Brera S, changes are more obvious. Not only are the supportive sports seats upholstered in soft black Frau® leather with red stitching, so are the dashboard fascia, door panels, steering wheel and gearlever. The centre console and instruments are faced in a dark finish. This interior can also be specified on the 2.2 JTS version.
Foot pedals are fashioned from drilled aluminium and the headrest recess houses a limited edition Brera S aluminium plate, featuring the flags of Italy and Britain.
For the record, the 2.2 JTS and 3.2 V6 JTS Alfa Brera S can reach 62 mph from rest in 8.6 and 7.0 seconds respectively, on the way to maximum speeds of 139 and 155 mph.
The transition from Alfa Brera to Brera S takes place at Alfa Romeo UK's dedicated import centre, near Bristol, and is overseen by Prodrive.
Nicholas Bernard says: "The standard Brera is well loved and delivers a great all-round driving experience. But the Alfa Brera S is deliberately honed, tuned and
fettled for British roads and aimed directly at a dedicated audience of driving enthusiasts."

[Source: Alfa Romeo]

Despite the seemingly drastic measures, and here's the rub, the upper management will be driving around in Mercedes Benz CLK's for their hard work. The total corporate fleet of 443 cars figures in at about 8 million British pounds, with an average vehicle price of 19,900 Quid. We're no experts in labor relations, but we're betting this really chuffs the knickers of all those out of work disabled limeys. Bet there's about the be a big row over this one. [This IsLondon]

The UK of course went through its own Malaise Era, after the war. It was a time of weak tea and Kingsley Amis novels, before the Swingin' Sixties episode. And now there's a building sense that the bad times are returning and that carmakers who can't get with the the UK's increasingly aggressive environmental policies are on the wrong side of history. That's the takeaway from British Chancellor of the Exchequer Alistair Darling's announcement that his first budget will tax high-emissions vehicles and, consequently, reward consumers for choosing low-emission rides.

If Britons really want to get into the spirit of things, however, they'll forgo cars altogether and start riding bicycles in emulation of Philip Larkin, the nation's once-celebrated poet of misery and deprivation, who's due for a restoration if things keep going the way they are. This was a man, after all, who lamented in verse an England where "...all that remains/For us will be concrete and tyres."

[Reuters]

The initial use of the technology is to monitor the HOV lanes and prevent hoodlums from illegally driving in the lanes, but government officials are interested in the technology to monitor overall traffic and highways during peak times like rush hour. I guess the solution would be to fill that inflatable doll with pig's blood to fool the cameras into thinking you are really traveling with another person, but if you're that desperate you should really just look into leaving a bit earlier. [BBC]
(Image)

This car has lived on the island for quite a while, and it runs fine. Its owner also has the '69 Olds Cutlass convertible we saw not long ago, plus a '69 Dodge Dart we haven't seen yet. And that's not all the cool old iron on this block- just across the street from this stable of street-parked classics is the home of the '47 Plymouth and the '54 Ford. Yes, Alameda truly is the Island That Time Forgot!


The interior is in excellent condition, and looks all original (except for the aftermarket gauge cluster and door speakers).


A no-rust British 50s British convertible is a rare sight in most places, but this is just another day down on the Alameda street!

While we would like to see them throw out the current stable of official Jags in favor of the Caparo T1, we'd miss his automotive insight and witticisms on Top Gear. Let's also marvel at a country where the top politician actively seeks out the sentiment of the governed. [Reuters via Yahoo]

First Four-Door Electric Car Approved for UK From ZAP

November 20, 2007: 03:30 AM EST

A new four-dour electric car design from ZAP (OTCBB: ZAAP) called the Xebra® has passed Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) inspection, allowing it to be driven on roads in the United Kingdom.

VOSA provides a range of licensing, testing and services enforcing the roadworthiness standards of vehicles in the UK. VOSA approval means the vehicle complies with full road traffic standards set for UK cars.

"With its congestion toll zone, London has become the world's great proving ground for the electric car," said ZAP CEO Steve Schneider. "Here is a unique electric vehicle that will help drivers save significantly on fuel costs as well as free passes for the daily congestion tolls and parking. We believe the Xebra is the first four-door electric vehicle to pass the VOSA test."

Schneider noted the Xebra is also available in a truck configuration. ZAP designed the Xebra to quickly and affordably fill the demand for cars that don't use conventional fossil fuels. ZAP calls the Xebra a "city-car," a unique vehicle for city-speed driving up to 40 MPH (64.4 KPH). The sedan and pickup truck versions can recharge at any normal household outlet.

ZAP recently appointed UK-national and former Lotus Engineering CEO Albert Lam to its Board of Directors. Mr. Lam is the Chairman for ZAP's new joint venture to manufacture next-generation electric and hybrid vehicles with Youngman Automotive Group, one of China's leading bus manufacturers.

Based in Santa Rosa, California, ZAP is now expanding distribution for the Xebra and other electric vehicles worldwide. The Xebra is targeted towards government, corporate and utility fleet use as well as daily urban commuting for multi-car families and is now available at a price of just over US$10,000. [CNN Money]

In an interview he said "It's about the physical and mental experience. When you're in the car you can't think about anything else, you have to just be in the moment... then it's just the physical experience of the sound, the forces on your body, everything fast around you." Amen, brother. Amen. [Telegraph]