October 2011 - Royal Automobile Club

Foundation update
by PhiliP Gomm
So which do you support? 4+2+2
as in Ireland and France? 3+2+2
as in Japan? Or 3+1+1 as we have
here? We are of course talking
about the frequency of the MOT
test which currently sees cars in
the UK evaluated three years
after being first registered and
annually after that. This
timescale has been around for
decades but ministers are
thinking of relaxing it, making
checks more infrequent and
bring the UK in line with the rest
of Europe. The case for change is
based on the supposed better
reliability of modern cars and a
desire to ease the administrative
and financial burden on
motorists. The counter
argument is that MOTs focus
drivers’ minds on safety and a
yearly assessment at least
encourages car owners to
consider the roadworthiness of
their vehicles. There is also
evidence to suggest a slight
increase in accident rates if cars
were scrutinised less often. Not
to mention a likely increase in
unemployment amongst the
50,000 MOT Testers and the
20,000 Testing Stations with
the associated costs. At the time
of writing we wait with bated
breath to see which way the
Government jumps. The RAC
Foundation is an independent
motoring research charity which
carries out authoratative
research.For more information
visit www.racfoundation.org
Club News
111-year-old electric car at the lBVcr
A rare 1900 Lohner–Porsche, the world’s first electric front
wheel drive hybrid car, will be in action at November’s London to
Brighton Veteran Car Run. The 111- year old car, conceived and
built by Ferdinand Porsche whilst working for Vienna
coachbuilder Jacob Lohner, makes a distinctive sound as the
engine runs at constant revs regardless of the car’s speed. You can
view the car at the Regent Street Motor Show on 5 November and
listen out for those revs on 6 November when the veteran cars
make the journey from Hyde Park in London to Madeira Drive in
Brighton. For more information visit www.veterancarrun.com.
red Bull Simulator
Members spent the afternoon
being Formula 1 drivers in
September (well sort of). Tony
Jeans was one of the lucky four
who were thrown around in the
Red Bull Formula 1 simulator,
used by Sebastian Vettel and
Mark Webber for training.
‘Every Formula 1 fan wonders
what it’s like to drive a racing car;
I watched the Monza grand prix
with fresh eyes, says Tony. ‘It was
the experience of a lifetime; one I
shall never forget.’
Get inVolVed
The Regent Street Motor Show
is on Saturday 5 November. 300
cars from the 19th, 20th and 21st
centuries will be on display. The
London to Brighton Veteran Car
Run is on the Sunday 6
November. A gala dinner is being
held, at the Metropole Hotel in
Brighton, after the Run (contact
Karen Cunningham on 01327
856024 to attend). McLaren’s
Martin Whitmarsh will speak at
the 2012 Motoring Dinner; for
tickets contact the events team.
October 2011 | Issue 136 | 63