DORSET OFFERS ADVICE TO NATION’S DRIVERS

Photo: Danielle Grant-Braham
Dorset motoring author Bruce Grant-Braham’s latest book, the RAC Essential Driver’s Handbook, has pooled advice from a team of the County’s experts to offer valuable advice to car drivers nationwide.
To crown the local connection the handbook has been published by a prestigious Dorset publisher.

Bruce, previously known for his motor sport and F1 books, was commissioned by Poundbury-based Veloce Publishing for this valuable addition to the company’s range of RAC advice handbooks.

“The RAC Essential Driver’s Handbook offers practical advice to car drivers as to how to they might best cope with some of the difficult situations that can occur at any time whilst driving, “says Guild of Motoring Writers member Bruce.

“Whether it is a breakdown, an accident, a car fire, an isolated car park or the difficulty of being a lone driver I hope the RAC Essential Driver’s Handbook will provide some ways of avoiding or minimising the effects of such stressful motoring situations,” Bruce said.

“I am extremely grateful for the professional advice I received during my research. I am pleased to say that we can be reassured that we have some nationally recognised experts in our County and I am indebted to those individuals from Dorset Police, Dorset Fire and Rescue and South West Ambulance NHS Foundation Trust who willingly offered advice to make sure that the final manuscript is as accurate and up-to-date as possible.”

The Essential Driver’s Handbook

Emergency situations can occur without warning and in any condition – day or night, in fine or inclement weather. This book shows you what to do in the event of an accident, whatever the severity. Practical roadside first aid basics are addressed, as are the practical and legal obligations for all those who may be involved, and explanations of what the emergency services will do, and why. Other situations addressed include how to avoid problems as a lone driver, as well as situations such as car-jacking. Finally, car parks, and their own specific security problems, are discussed. More info.


Bruce Grant-Braham has previously written histories of the Lotus and Williams F1 teams as well as of the Thruxton motor racing circuit.

He is Director of the Motor Sport Research Group at Bournemouth University, possesses a PhD and is a former Mayor of Poole. He is a member of the Guild of Motoring Writers.

"AN ENTERTAINING AND FASCINATING READ"

Mason's Motoring Mayhem! – Tony Mason's hectic life in motorsport and television, gets an awesome 5-star review in Auto Express magazine! Click here for more info about the book.

VIDEO: HOW AND WHY TO USE A CLAY BAR ON YOUR CAR WITH SIMON NIXON

Available now!
Caring for your car’s bodywork and interior
By Simon Nixon

Cars can be expensive things, and deserve to be cared for properly. A clean and well-tended car will look better, be more pleasurable to drive, and have a superior resale value. This book is a step-by-step guide to the various elements of car care, from washing, waxing and polishing to engine cleaning and leather maintenance. Featuring illustrations and product recommendations, this is a must-buy for all car lovers.
More info.

JOHN ROSAMOND SEVERNFM RADIO INTERVIEW

Would you like to know more about John Rosamond's book Save the Triumph Bonneville! The Inside Story of the Meriden Workers' Co-op?
If the answer is yes, you can find out more, courtesy of the Internet radio station Severn FM by listening to the author's answers to Andy Clarke's 12 questions that appear below.

1. The Triumph Bonneville is a 750cc motorcycle but what was so special about the Triumph Bonneville and Triumph motorcycles in particular?
2. What had happened to the other British makes like the Royal Enfield, Norton, Velocette, Vincent and BSA?
3. Triumph was massive in the 1960's what with Bob Dylan and Steve McQueen amongst the biggest stars of that era riding them, so what went so wrong that eventually led to a workers' co-operative being formed to carry on production?
4. When and why did you join Triumph Motorcycles? Was this before the co-operative?
5. Why a worker's co-operative and not an ordinary company?
6. There is a famous photo during the sit-in of a banner outside the factory stating "TRIUMPH STAYS AT MERIDEN WHERE THE LEGEND WAS MADE" – did that properly reflect the motivation of the workers involved in their industrial action?
7. The American market was important to Triumph before the co-operative – was it still important when the co-operative was up and running?
8. Did the co-operative have any successes and what was the public perception of the enterprise throughout the years?
9. How was the co-operative received by the business world, home and abroad?
10. What happened to the co-operative in the end?
11. What do you think the co-operative has most to be proud of, and what has it taught us?
12. Would you do such a thing again, and if you did would change anything you did in the running of the co-operative?

Of course these answers will only give you a taste of what the book is about but we are sure you will want to know more of how the Workers' Co-op survived for 8 years keeping the Triumph Bonneville in production!

Listen to the full interview below!

Click here for more info about the book.

THE CARTIER STYLE ET LUXE DISPLAY AT GOODWOOD FESTIVAL OF SPEED 2013 #FoS

A panel of discerning judges rose to the occasion at Goodwood on Sunday for the annual Cartier Style et Luxe concours d'elegance. The panel included Sir Jonathan Ive, Simon & Yasmin Le Bon, Sir Anthony Bamford, Sir Terence Conran, Kevin McCloud, and Gordon Murray.

1938 Alf Romeo 6C 1750 Gran Sport Aprile Spider Corsa.

 

Lamborghini Miura.

Sir Jonathan Ive.

1967 OSI Silver Fox.

1978 Bertone Lancia Sibilo.

Simon Le Bon.

1977 Lamborghini Countach LP400.

1954 Jaguar XK120 'supersonic'.

LAND SPEED RECORD BREAKERS DISPLAY AT GOODWOOD FESTIVAL OF SPEED 2013 #FoS

A fine collection of Land Speed Record machines at Goodwood Festival of Speed this year. We caught up with Donald Stevens for a few words about the Bluebird CN7.

Donald Stevens, project co-ordinator for the design and construction of the Bluebird CN7 car, and author of Veloce book Bluebird CN7 - The inside story of Donald Campbell’s last Land Speed Record car. Click here for more info about the book!

Bluebird-Proteus CN7

Renault Etoile Filante

Sunbeam 1000HP

Bluebird V

Gilette Mach 3 Challenger

Sunbeam V12

Donald Stevens was born in the East End of London, but grew up in Haywards Heath, the Sussex market town to which he was evacuated in 1939. In his early teenage years he became fascinated by aeroplanes and other machines, and on leaving school began training as a mechanical engineer.
At 19, he joined the newly-formed design consultancy Norris Brothers Ltd as its first employee, and became a member of the design team for Donald Campbell’s Bluebird hydroplane. Following National Service in the RAF, Donald became project co-ordinator for the design and construction of the Bluebird car. This is his first book.

Bluebird CN7 - The inside story of Donald Campbell’s last Land Speed Record car
By Donald Stevens

Records the development, construction and operation of the last wheel-driven land speed record breaking car that the UK produced, and tells how the tragic demise of Donald Campbell prevented it from reaching its full potential. A unique account of a legendary feat of engineering. More info

TONY MASON BOOK SIGNS HIS NEW BOOK AT GOODWOOD FESTIVAL OF SPEED 2013 #FoS

Tony Mason took a breather from commentating at the Goodwood Festival of Speed Forest Rally Stage to sign some copies of his new book Mason's Motoring Mayhem!

Few people achieve success and notoriety in more than one field, but Tony Mason has managed it! He joined a local car club before he even had a car, eventually climbing to the top with rally wins in his native Lake District, before joining the prestigious Ford works team and co-driving Britain’s biggest rally star, Roger Clark, to win outright the RAC Rally – Britain’s toughest event of its kind. He started a successful car accessory business then ventured onto the stage for a short while, before being signed by the BBC to appear on its popular Top Gear programme, on which he was a main presenter for 15 years. His cheery presence became a popular part of the programme, and he moved from rallying to driving all manner of vehicles, from vintage Rolls-Royces, Reliant Robins, tanks, fire engines and Eddie Stobart trucks. After he was famously bombarded with snowballs during a report on the Monte Carlo Rally, he became even better known, with the famous out-take being shown on programmes around the the world.
Tony Mason’s light-hearted, jovial persona transfers from television to page in this autobiography, taking readers on a trip from his early life in the seaside town of Morecambe through almost 100 countries, with thrills, spills, ups-and-downs all vividly remembered and often shown in photographs. More info.