BIRD'S EYE VIEW
Page 46
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BY THE HAWK
• Are Americans more religious than the British? Certainly their politicians and other public figures, in justifying their actions, make more frequent references to the Almighty. Watergate and now Irangate are full of examples of dubious claims that "God is on our side".
A reader driving on an interState highway recently saw God on an even more surprising side — that of an artic, the livery of which claimed to be "GOD Transport". Having pinched himself to ensure that he was not in Scandinavia (where • A sunny day, an empty test track, and one million pounds worth of the latest truck technology were put together with CM staff at a ride-and-drive test day last week. Manufacturers (MAN-VW, Leyland Daf, Foden, Kassbohrer Setra, ERF, Nee° Ford, Volvo, Scania, Bedford, Daihatsu, Renault, and Mercedes Benz) offered some of their most expensive vehicles for CM staff to try out, and the machinery ranged from a tiny Daihatsu rnicrovan, to a fully laden Foden 4400 semi artic.
The technical staff looked on in amazement as the "god" means "goods") he decided to investigate. Like our reader, the truck was exceeding the 88Icrnh speed limit by a generous margin. But what Highway Patrol officer would risk blasphemy by giving a ticket to such a Divine vehicle?
However, it did not claim heavenly exemption from a compulsory call to be weighed at truck scales. This gave our disappointed reader the chance to see that the initials stood for the earthly "Guaranteed Ovemite Delivery".
'backroom boys and girls' got to grips with the moving metal, and affirmed their potential as road testers. Dave Richmond our erstwhile sub editor found the crash gearbox on the MAN 6x6 tipper slightly different from the allsynchromesh unit on the BSM Metro he takes his driving lessons in.
Pauline the editor's secretary espoused the 4x2 E14 ERF exhaust brake in favour of the Volvo FL10's. The youngest CM staffer, Juliet, found the Iveco Ford Transporter very easy to drive, until it was pointed out that it was not one of took place in Brighton recently. Beta Centauri was there along with The Wizard, Mowgli and Bow. Beings stranger than science fiction? Ancient druids from outer space? Mythical warlords in congress? Wrong. These are some of the names given to the pedal-powered racing cars entered in the annual Unipart National Scoutcar Races which took place on 4 July. Although there were numerous races giving every cub and scout brigade a chance, shortage of space limits this column to reporting the results of the final Championship Grand Prix. This the test vehicles at which point she wandered off in the direction of the 38 tonne Scania.
The Hawk attempted a Gilles Bataille stunt in the TurboStar and was sent off the track for his efforts.
Leyland Daf reps said nowt while the Renault boffins comforted Steve Gale (CM art editor) after a stray squirrel almost made contact with the G260 he was driving.
All in all, it was a
wonderful day. All of us at Commercial Motor wish to thank those brave and patient men who showed us how it's done.
Stourbridge Group in the 'Park Lane'. In second place was the Kingsfield vs Unit with the 'Beta Centauri' and in third came 'Zip' built by Amblecote Holy Trinity. Of course this has nothing to do with the road transport industry but. . it's a start.
• From pedal power to Power Ball. The South East Truck and 4x4 Festival to be held at Kent County Showground on 25 and 26 July, will feature the lunatic pictured above. Psycho Simon and his mates who form the Dayout Dodgers will be playing a game of Powerball to delight the crowds.
Powerball must be seen to be believed. The ball is 2 metres high and the game is based on five-a-side football. God only knows what happens when someone tries a slide tackle.
/ Good news from HM Customs and Excise. Entitled Value Added Tax: Valuation of goods on removal from warehouse, the first paragraph reads: 'HM Customs and Excise advise that consultations are taking place with the European Commission about the impact on valuation for VAT purposes, of new customs valuation rules which are to be introduced on 1 January 1988, for goods being removed from warehouse. Pending the outcome of the consultations the new customs valuations need not be applied to certain goods being removed from warehouse.' There's more.
'From 1 January 1988 traders may choose one of two methods by which elements of the VAT value may be converted from foreign currencies for goods which are chargeable with excise duty only or with both excise duty and a specific customs duty when they are removed from warehouse'.
I can't take any more of this.