Whilst travelling back home along the M56 earlier this evening I had 'a bit of an altercation' with a lorry driver.

Approaching J12 westbound I slowed to 40mph and set the cruise control for the duration of the SPECS policed roadworks, I'm in lane 1.
I slowly caught up a horsebox, so moved to lane 2, (on checking my mirrors I could see a lorry in lane 1 some way back which I'd passed before entering the 40mph area, plus another car in lane 3)
Once past the horsebox I could have moved back into lane 1 but decided that I was gaining on a car ahead in lane 2 (I'm still at 40mph on cruise), plus I was about to start passing the on slip so there was the possibility of traffic wishing to join. With me so far?

Again I checked my mirrors and saw that the lorry behind me was gaining on me quite rapidly, plus the car in lane 3 was about to pass me. I've now passed the end of the on slip, so give the chap in front of me in lane 2 a quick flash of the lights (nothing ahead of him in lane 1), he doesn't respond. Almost instantaneously I am aware of the lorry now directly behind me, I would estimate maybe a car's length from my bootlid, flashing his headlights. I'm talking a full size artic here.
I am a tad snookered now, as the guy in lane 3 has begun braking falongside the car in lane 2 in readiness for the last SPECS cameras as we reach the end of the restriction. (some folk just don't understand SPECS)
The lorry driver then throws his wagon across into lane 1 and passes me whilst gesticulating to my partner in the passenger seat as if he has some coffee beans in his hand.
He then tears past the last camera probably on his 56mph limiter.

My partner wished to return to compliment so once out of the restriction I drew alongside in lane 2 to allow her to do this. (yes we know two wrongs don't make a right and all that!).
I was quite annoyed to say the least, here we were observing the temporary speed limit, only for this professional driver to behave like a complete norbert.
On noticing the company name splashed down the side of the cab I could not resist suggesting that we make a record of the telephone number, but my partner went one better and got her phone camera out, then took a nice flash photo which has come out rather well. (Taken from the side with an LED flash whilst driver was choosing to ignore us by looking straight on so no risk of blinding him)
Apart from showing the company name, telephone number and website address, the picture shows the side of the driver's face in reasonable detail, with a fag hanging from his mouth, along with a 'No Smoking' sticker on the cab window.
Do you think the driver will have been suitably shocked when he realised a photo had been taken?

So, if you're still with me, what would you do? Anything? Nothing?
I'd be very surprised if an NIP for speeding isn't winging his way anyway, is that enough justice for this type of driving?? Read more

***** This thread is now closed, please CLICK HERE to go to Volume 26 *****


Support for Top Gear - Posted by Honestjohn Sat 23 Sep 06 10:12

Writing of Richard Hammond's hoped for complete recovery in 'The Sun' today, Jeremy Clarkson tells us, "You'd think that the joyous news would silence the vultures circling the crash site since the accident, rejoicing in the fact that Top Gear had finally been taught its lesson that speed kills. Somehow I doubt it though. The campaign to have us taken off the air - sparked curiously by the BBC's own news website - will now be ramped up, fuelled by the environmentalists and spearheaded by muddle-headed road safety campaigners. Richard is winning his fight. And now mine begins. To make sure he has a show to come back to."

The Sun also tells us: "BBC bosses have decided to indefinitely postpone a new series of 'Best of Top Gear'. The first show was due to air on October 1. They have also scrapped Richard's new daredevil show Dangerous Britain - where he was due to tackle hazardous landscapes."

Top Gear needs your support. It certainly has mine.

Whole Sun article at www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2-2006440317,00.html

HJ

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I accidentally deleted this thread earlier. I have however managed to restore the earlier posting that HJ made. It's a bit heath robinson, with regard to having to copy / paste everyone's messages into postings that I have had to make.

Please accept my apologies. If it's any consolation, it has taken me nearly an hour to restore the thread. That'll teach me to check what I am deleting before pressing the button. DD Read more

Recently took delivery of a brand new Ford S-Max 1.8tdci Zetec. Its a fabulous car but has been let down by a string of minor trim and fitting faults, all of which have been sorted by the supplying dealership.

However one fault still persists, which is that if you do not turn and hold the ignition key long enough it is possible to make the engine produce an almighty clatter, but not fully fire up. This clears if you shut the engine off and start it again.

I just wonder if any other S-Max drivers have found the same fault and whether their dealer was able to remedy it? Ford are aware of the issue, allegedly, but have not come up with a solution - so until they do their line is 'if you start the car according to the Handbook it will start without problem'.

This is a very annoying problem for me, as it is not difficult to recreate this fault if you inadvertently start the car too quickly. Read more

I noticed today how quickly the brake discs on my car get that light covering of rust on them, especially with the weather being warm and wet.

So I just wondered if the rust contaminates the brake pads and would that affect their performance? Read more

Any DIY options for repairing cracks in black plastic front bumpers?
N-reg Micra driven into a parking bollard!
Bumper is cracked but stable.
Are there such things as black filler materials available at Halfords etc.?

Thanks
Mike Read more