Wendy

Really feeling for you. Hope you get it back soon.

I think having sufficient funds to get you through 4 months would be a good start. It's what I try to do. I reckon in many a situation, a resolve could at least be close if not solved in that time. I have been in this scenerio with one months back up (was too broke to have more at the time) and had to take mortgage holidays. Thank goodness this was an option for me. Personally if I had the funds to throw 25 - 30k at a Cayman, I would be purchasing one or a track/race car. (You could sponser me? !! ) But this purchase would not be to the detriment of my everyday living/life style, or travel - which is usually to rather differing destinations and not so cheap. Just last weekend, I spent some time forecasting my Retirement Date options with/without State and Private Pensions pay outs. (The latter is dire - my eyes are wide open on this though - I do not have children) and have always maintained I will downsize. So in the above forecast, I was calculating sell dates, how many downsizes (not wanting to loose valuable funds to agents, solicitors and the like). etc etc. I really found this interesting to do and I know would bore some to tears...anyway I decided I could snuff it at 82 !!!! I think the thing I would say most, is if you don't know what to do with excess monies you may have at the moment, just try to put it somewhere relatively safe for now, a decision will come. Another house to rent out perhaps ?

I only saw Race 3 - which was very entertaining. Missed 1 and 2. Can I watch them anywhere ? I couldn't find them

Really looking forward to this. Was looking at some of the older threads and photo's especially on previous years. Some fantastic shots of both individual cars and views on the road. The drives out should be fun. Hope it is sunny unlike a very gloomy day it is here today.

That is looking good. What a fantastic upbringing. It must have felt like a huge sense of achievement as a young boy to see it all finished, running and look grand. So wish I had been brought up in the world like this. I got sent to Girl's school and eveything, ballet, sewing - the lot !! I rebelled naturally and made my summer School Projects on cars - which did not go down well with teachers or parents !! I have even tried to do Mechanics courses in the evenings, but they are dreadfully basic. I actually do know how to check my tyres, water levels and oil - thanks. They barely offer anything else. Still love the garage enviroment though. So, I just drive instead these days and appreciate car styling and the work others achieve, plus lots of Motorsport. In my next life though.................

A Snake - they hiss !! Allegedly !!

Not as sad as one of my Clients !! So when Marissua were being sold and all parts became available on ebay, several of us were egging him on to buy into this historic happening. He viewed the site and items and when talking away to us later, suddenly shouted across the office that he had accidentally bought a Front Wing for £1800. He had clicked his mouse !!!! So we now have a lovely Marissua Front Wing cluttering up the office. He is not allowed to take it home, the wife went mental !!!! :lol: I offered to store it on my garage wall, but he does not seem so keen !!!

My understanding is similar. Zero hours, no contract, no sick pay, no holiday pay, possible no job tomorrow. As Two Bears asks/suggest - are there a variety of differing Zero Hours Work offered by Employers ?

Would you lend me 40k - Please, pretty please !!! I love the Cayman. Think it may be a way off before I can afford one though. Would prefer a manual mind !!

What an event though. Some stunning machinery there. Shame it rained for them

I cannot wash my car in under an hour, fine if you have masses of time and daylight ! (Time is a huge problem - there is me - to do everything !) So, Rinse, wash, rinse, dry, including getting together everything I need to wash and pack away in my hour to be fair. Longer if I polish. :-) I have got into a habit of making Events/Show the places where I spend more time to do the extra's - Exhaust, Trims, Leather polish etc. What are you doing to be able to wash your car in minutes ??????

Kimi - to win !!!! :lol: Just a shame he is in a Ferrari . Despite really not liking Hamilton, he is a good driver. And all the others were wearing their caps probably due to going bald !!! Cannot believe How Button so positive. I have not read all the blurb. What is going on with that car and team. How can they really be so far behind. Its not like they did not know they would be racing in 2015. !!! Alonso won't stay surely ? Verstappen - yesterday - serioulsy nice driving and over taking manoevres. Not seen Carlos Sainz senior at F1 yet. Have I just missed him or has he really not been there ?

Liking the sound of tunnels, but rain - I hope that is booked elsewhere that weekend !!!!

The vast majority of people do not care about their vehicles. Otherwise there would also be no spaces at the furthest point from the Supermarket doors where those of us who do treasure our cars generally park. Despite it being alien to me - seems the majority buy their vehicles on Credit and hand them back every 3 years too, so they are not really going to care to the same degree - or at least not the folk I know and some have some good cars. Spring/Summer is definetely the time with the longer evenings for me to actually enjoy washing my car rather than the chore over winter when invariably I don't !!!

Good video. So the Hand wash if they had not used the Plastic wipe thingy would have been ok !!! I too would prefer to only wash my car myself - but - this is not always possible. One time my physio stopped me - said it was causing too much continued damage on my shoulders and back, so when things like this occur, leave the car covered in salt or go to the Hand Wash chaps . Know what I am doing when this occurs. Besides its quite nice having several fit young men crawling all over my car. Of course if I did not work or do occasional Track Days, my neck, shoulders and back would be fine !!! Plus I would have all the time in the world to wash my cars - one day !! :lol:

Personally I think that is very one sided and good advertising for the Company who wrote it. Besides £6 is the basic wash and dry - what do you get elsewhere for £6.00 ? A three hour car wash costs what - £75 as a minimum I would have thought. While I do not disagree in the main, hardly fair to say all Hand Washes are doing all these and all using poor products. Many of the items noted above - are products we have all used for years too. Yellow sponge, chamois leather are just two. If you shop around and get to know some of the staff, they will if asked - Wash out the cloths they clean with - so ensuring no grit is left over from the previous wash. They will also use your own products if asked. Tipping always gets you noticed as does talking to the staff and building relationships. I think its like anything in life - rermember you are the customer and make your requests, you are paying. If a new member of staff arrives and they go to do various things on my car, another member of staff will tell them, usually annnouncing I will break their legs if they dare - not wash out the cloths, think of squirling strokes on my paintwork etc etc. Often this involves pointing at me and laughing at the same time. But true none the less.

I too thought this on my way over to Bedford. It was dire, these folk are obvioulsy the ones sat in offices most of the week, as I don't normally land up driving amongst so many really bad drivers. I didn't even bother trying to overtake them deciding they really had no knowledge of what was going on. I wondered if a Saturday morning thing and just too stressed ? !! Not good to see the damage on your vehicles guys. What's with the not stopping and the uninsured ?! Seems like pride and honesty are not so key anymore- Shame !

Agree, brilliant afternoon. So glad the weather was different to home. Just one wet session when visibitlty was crap - of course that was the time I was on Track - but hey !! Beamer is so much better than I thought it would be, yeah maybe a few handling issues to be sorted might assist it behaving as it should, (rather alot of understeer) and some decent tyres but in all great fun. I did get a black flag But.. it was a case of mistaken identity, It was not me after all !! Whew ! Both Brillomaster and I knew I had not done anything wrong, properly finished that session for me though - shame but hey !! Second session was much improved as I my confidence grew with the handling of the car and more knowledge gained about the circuit. Lovely set up at Bedford, really friendly Circuit staff. Cannot believe the amount of run off that circuit has. Rather difficult sighting at several points just due to the level of the sun though. Huge Thank you to Andrew and Ken.

Leaving shortly to go and join these chaps. Seriously hope the weather is considerably better than here where it is really windy and has been raining for hours. Think, I might be Support Team - if the weather is like this at Bedford Autodrome. Am taking coffee !!

I find a very gentle rolling forward makes then think you are really eager to boot it off the lights too. Hilarious antics !!! I also have brilliant convoy tactics when leading - just to make sure everyone is awake and concentrating. All quite safe - don't worry !!!! and soooooooooooo funny !!! :lol: Sure some will get to experience some f these soon !!

I have read somewhere since all this - that it is possible for Ground Crew - Pilots - to take over the flying of an aircraft - but this is not done. Makes you wonder why not ? I think the reason this flight disaster is possibly effecting/affecting ? - some of us more than others - is it was practically on our doorstep, many of us know the area crudely and also because we have so much more data being fed to us we feel are able to either visualise or feel the effect of the events. Very sad we have such people in the world that decide to kill others in the quest to kill themselves though. I cannot imagine waiting at an airport for a plane that does not arrive and never will - with your friends or family just gone. I found the flight board - with no status beside it gave me the jitters. Seems the UK is not the only Country that does not deal with Depression and similar illnesses either promptly or take it seriously.

Andy/Ken - When its a bit warmer I will come and join you at one of the Track Events. Unless of course you need a test driver this weekend !!!!! :lol: Enjoy, have fun and ...............Remember Oil !!!!

I have only just read this and your previous post. Like everyone else on here, I wish your brother a full recovery and as speedy as possible. Head injury's - so not good. Glad to hear your brother is making good progress. Regarding the fatigue - this really can go on for an incredibly long time, like 8 - 10 years I reckon, lessening during this time gradually. I was in a bad RTA in 2003 as a passenger in a Caterham resulting with a head injury. I was back working 2 hours a day within 6 weeks, but it took over a year before I was back in full time work and 5 months before I was legally allowed to drive !!!! (Self Employed too- not good ) There are a variety of groups out there - Don't know if you have heard of 'Headway', there will be groups in your area - they particularly assist folk with Head injuries. Regarding the Legal side (I found out about Headway too late for this) - I found eventually to be worse to deal with than the accident. Please do not expect this to be resolved quickly, I was mis-lead so many times causing additional stresses. It was 5 years before the legal side was completed for me, so please just be prepared for this to be similar. I eventually got to hear most cases similar to this do take this long. Why, I can only think to line Solicitors pockets more. Yes, I hate Solicitors more than any Builder/Mechanic etc !!! My biggest fear was I would loose my love for cars. My car friends did their best to ensure this was not going to happen, and gave me so much support usually in the way of P!55 takes!!! Hopefully with your fantastic assistance - your brother won't have any car/speed issues. Take the scarcasim as a blessing I went onto complete masses of Track Days, take my Race Licence and generally do much more in the whole world of cars, motorsport etc. I sincerely hope your brother manages the same. If I can offer any further assistance or support on this side of things - please do Pm me. I will leave the chaps to assist with the mechanical/race prep side - I just drive !!!! Take care.

I have used ARDS Instructors also at a variety of the Tracks. You will often get a single session about 20 minutes for around £30 - £40 in places like Coombe. Others you will get 2 - 3 laps for that price and even free. There are around Schools that Hire out Cars and Instructors for full and half days. There are also stacks of people around these circuits who have masses of experience, just arrive early on a Track Day and take a walk along the Pit Garages - they are really friendly places, just talk to any of them, find out what experience they have, many of them will accompany you and give you tips for the price of a coffee and a hearty thank you. Lots of Track Days are utilised by those in one championship series or another for their 'shake downs' and 'testing'. Don't get put off by this, they may be in the MR2 series, the Mini etc etc, not all championship series are hugely wealthy. There really is masses out there with masses of experience. You will often also find a Instruction School at many circuits - often just visiting for the day and often with their own car. If they are stood around doing nothing, its good additional business for them to take you our, chargeable or not, its PR for them. A book I would highly recommend would be the 'UK Circuit Guide' by David Walton. It details in both map and description terms all circuits in the UK - advising all braking points, turn ins. It advises of track surfaces, sighting points the lot, including Hill Climbs venues. I bought mine in 2006 when it was about £40 and some of the best money I spent. If only I could afford to race...................... my Ards Licence expired mid 2012, not used. One Day hopefully I will win a fortune on the Premium Bonds, I have managed £175 so far this year, so..........fingers crossed !! Go for some Instruction guys and buy the book - you won't regret it.

I too would recommend the Drivers Parade in LM town and getting there mega early. There are Tourist buses laid on from the circuit- with long queues !!