Classic emails, letters, tweets, posts & threads
LETTER OF THE MONTH LETTER
Joy of Bangernomics
Craig Cheetham's Bangernomics article (PC, June 2024) reminded me of another advocate of unexceptional cars – the racing driver Sir John Whitmore, who wrote a short book in 1988, Superdriver – Discover the Joy of Driving.
The title is deliberately ironic because it doesn't refer to top racing drivers but explores the very different skill of driving ordinary cars safely and smoothly on public roads. As he points out, supercars are subject to the same speed limits and traffic jams as the most basic model of car, but with added accompanying frustrations, making them pointless as daily transport.
At the time, he was driving a base-model VW Golf in he which enjoyed practising ‘superdriver’ skills, arriving at journey's end refreshed and with a sense of achievement rather than frustration. A bonus was that, in the part of London where he lived, the humdrum Golf didn't attract the attention of thieves and vandals, who targeted neighbours' more upmarket cars instead.
You featured my Honda Jazz MkI recently. With its 1.4-litre motor (a proper little racing engine that positively thrives on revs) and CVT autobox, I think of it as more of a ‘sporting saloon’ (to use an old term) than an ‘unexceptional’ car. It is perfectly happy to be driven smoothly and quietly, but enjoys being hustled along in sport mode (as indeed do I!) when conditions allow.
I LOVED IT ON DRIVE-IT DAY
This photo of my MGA was taken on a ‘Drive It Day’ run to Holderness in East Yorkshire. We had bacon butties before setting off on a scenic drive to Spurn Point and a pitstop at the Kilnsea pub. We enjoyed the sunshine, and catching up with fellow petrolheads before returning home via remote Sunk Island. Our food was supplied by Janet Foreman, who also sponsored the event.
Ouch!
Reading Ed’s feature (PC Academy, June 2024) I just want to add the following advice regarding battery basics. Ensure your ring (if worn) doesn’t touch the opposite terminal of the battery to the one the spanner is on, as well as the spanner. Take it from me – it causes a big flash and instant heat, and can lead to having your ring cut off your finger. Something you do only once!
Quick posts
My dad had a Cavalier Coupé in 1986. I loved it so much I got one of my own four years ago. It certainly turns heads!
I have two –a sports hatch and a four-door saloon, which is my daily driver.
I have vivid memories of
