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THANKS TO BRIAN LACEY FOR THE PHOTOS………..
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YES I KNOW THE CHAIRMAN SAID LAST YEAR WAS OUR LAST TRIP, BUT THE ATTRACTION OF THIS SHOW,THE TOWN THE AREA KEEPS BRINGING US BACK, ALONG WITH A LOT OF OTHER CLUBS FROM IRELAND.
YOU FIND IT HARD TO GET TO A SHOW IN ENGLAND THAT THE TRIP IS AS HANDY. AT THE MOMENT WE HAVE IO CARS GOING,WITH SOME GOING ON THE WEDNESDAY FOR A TOUR OF SOME OF THE SITES OF WALES.FOR MORE DETAIL ON THE LONGER TRIP PLEASE CONTACT Sean Doheny ON 086 2642214
THE NEXT CREW LEAVING ON THE FRIDAY SAILING AT 1 pm approx WITH MOST RETURNING ON THE MONDAY. IF YOU WANT MORE DETAILS OR HELP IN MAKING YOUR MIND UP GIVE PAUL A BUZZ ON 085 1490860
CHECK OUT THE FESTIVAL WEB SITE ON OUR LINKS LIST
BELOW IS A TIME TABLE FOR THE “STENA LINE” BOATS JUST TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF TIME AND THE COST www.stenaline.ie
ALSO IRISH FERRIES DO THIS ROUTE TO HOLLYHEAD www.irishferries.com
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Cars registered before January 1st 1980 are exempt from nct testing.
Effective from January 4th 2010:
Cars registered on or after 1 January 1980 will be subject to the NCT. In this way older vehicles will be brought into the testing system year on year.
Dangerous Vehicle
New arrangements will apply when it is considered that a tested vehicle would be a danger to the public if driven. In such a case a “Fail Dangerous” notice will be affixed, and An Garda Siochana will be notified if the owner/presenter drives the vehicle from the centre. The use of a dangerously defective vehicle on a public road is an offence for which the driver and owner could be prosecuted with a fine of up to €2,000 and 5 penalty points on conviction and/or 3 months imprisonment.
Effective from June 2010;
Annual testing of vehicles over 10 years old
At present two thirds of cars aged 10 years and older presented for a test do not pass first time. These older vehicles are more likely to be involved in a collision. Almost half (47%) of collisions that occurred in 2007 involved vehicles that were 9 years old or more. From 1 June 2011 annual testing of cars over 10 years old will commence. Cars over 10 years old will be issued an annual certificate after this date.
NCT Results for 2009
Category of cars tested in 2009 are 05 reg. 03 reg. 01 reg. 99 and all 92-96 reg vehicles.
05 Reg Vehicles: First time Pass Rate is 72% and Re-test Pass Rate is 96%
03 Reg Vehicles: First time Pass Rate is 61% and Re-test Pass Rate is 95%
01 Reg Vehicles: First time Pass Rate is 51% and Re-test Pass Rate is 93%
01 Reg Vehicles: First time Pass Rate is 51% and Re-test Pass Rate is 93%
99 Reg Vehicles: First time Pass Rate is 41% and Re-test Pass Rate is 89%
92-96 Reg Vehicles: First time Pass Rate is 33% and Re-test Pass Rate is 87%
Below please see the total numbers of vehicles tested and the overall pass rate.
| Year 2009 | Pass | Fail Refusal | Fail Dangerous | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full Tests | 444,935 (51.5%) | 412,887 (47.7%) | 6,554 (0.8%) | 864,376 |
| Re-tests | 367,404 (90.8%) | 36,985 (9.1%) | 556 (0.1%) | 404,945 |
The main failure items were Front Suspension, Brake lines/ Hoses and Tyre Condition.
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For the last ten years or so I have watched a red 3 Series BMW standing in the driveway of a bungalow not too far from where I live, it hasn’t as far as I know moved a wheel, from a distance the body looks in very good order, so one must presume the problem is mechanical.
As a much sort after saloon one fails to understand why it is left, however on the way to Carrick on Suir there is an identical red 3 series BMW doing exactly the same as our local one, though I think the owner has now invested in a garage,I can confirm the car is safely tucked away, whether or not he can fit both the BMW and the Volvo sports in is a matter of some conjecture, we are perhaps strange animals, especially when one sees cars left to rust articles in some of the magazines.
My sister in law purchased one of the latest creations from the Munich factory, however she and the immediate family insist on calling it “a beamer”, it is rather like calling the Rolls Royce a “roller”, you can see what court I am in.
In late 1982 BMW released another incarnation of the original 3 series which made its debut in 1975, this was of course an upgrade of the very successful 2002 saloon, whilst German engineering has always been considered conservative so one does not expect radical changes in any of the cars.
The 320i is the middle model of three, there is a four cylinder 316 and another 6 cylinder 323 with a longer stroke giving it 2316cc, the 320i has only 1990cc, however both cars have 5 speed gearboxes as standard and it is an option on the smaller four cylinder model. .
One can also get an automatic, at a cost of course, however BMW’s are driver’s cars and part of the joy is the superb gearbox.
Outwardly one would be hard pushed to tell the difference between the three cars, naturally the badges on the rear do give all away, I remember we had a five series at work and for some obscure reason we asked that it came without any indication as to which model it was, perhaps it was not good advertising for an insurance company to be driving the top of the range model.
In the UK the 320i cost almost 9K, though there was various goodies one
could get like a manual sunroof for £400, and a limited slip differential
nearly £300, electric windows would add £275, green tinted glass a steal at almost £100 and central locking £150, which doesn’t seem out of this
world, spare parts again seemed reasonable for a car of this class, a set of brake pads just over £80, and exhaust system complete at £142, but think hard that was nearly 30 years ago.
At this point one has to accept that power steering was not available on the 320i and is therefore heavy at parking speeds, but a sports pack was becoming available which put that matter right, who cares any way the car is described as a jewel, it is meticulously put together, the engine will cruise at the top end of the range all day long, considering you have rear wheel drive the road manners are impeccable, the vacuum front disc and rear drums stop the car without any undue pressure required.
The boot is described as huge, which is very useful for anyone who tours and plays golf, or just likes to carry lots of bits and pieces, there is nothing worse than a pokey boot, being a Volvo fan I guess we take that for granted.
Seating, well typical German, on the hard side but one does appreciate it after a while, there is nothing worse than soft soggy seats, the instrumentation is described as perfectly functional and easy to read, the slightly smaller steering wheel is beneficial, and the four halogen headlights are a boon and when dipped do not dazzle oncoming drivers.
The 320i is fitted with air blending unit, a departure from the water valve unit BMW had always used which had a slow warm up time.
Do you know that writing this article has almost convinced me that the BMW is best thing since sliced bread, even the petrol consumption given that you are driving performance vehicle is round about 26 to 30 odd miles to the gallon which is about the norm for the late 70’s and early eighties.
Apparently the body is not rust prone but like all classic’s they need a little tlc to be kept in tip top condition, we do have some club members who have very immaculate examples and I am sure they would be delighted to give advice to anyone contemplating a 320i.
Before you decide to rush out and snap up the first available example, I was in a web site in Australia relating to BMW’s and there was a few
Complaints about things like warning lights and windows but in the main there was little to worry about.
Technical specs, a 7 main bearing engine with toothed belt camshaft drive, you get of course Bosch Jetronic fuel injection, the compression ratio is 9.8 to 1.
Suspension is Independent Macpherson struts, coil springs and telescopic dampers, plus an anti roll bar, at the back end there is independent semi trailing arms, coil springs and telescopic dampers and yet another anti roll bar, some suspension set up.
Steering rack and pinion using 14 inch wheels and 4.5 turns from lock to lock. The test car was fitted with Pirelli Cinturato P6.
3 speed wipers plus flick/wipe, electric screen wash, air conditioning sorry that’s extra, cloth seats and head lining, laminated windscreen and the underbody protection is described as electro phoretic bath plus was underbody sill and wax injected box sections, no wonder the body is so good.
Happy motoring regards Ted
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Can you imagine having the same car for 82 years?!!!
Mr. Allen Swift ( Springfield , MA.) received this 1928 Rolls-Royce Picadilly P1 Roadster
from his father, brand new – as a graduation gift in 1928.
He drove it up until his death last year…..at the age of 102 !!!
He was the oldest living owner of a car from new. Just thought you’d like to see it.
He donated it to a Springfield museum after his death. It has 170,000 miles on it, still runs like a Swiss watch, dead silent at any speed and is in perfect cosmetic condition. (82 years)
That’s approximately 2000 miles per year…
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OUR AGM DATE HAS NOW BEEN MOVED TO WEDNESDAY 2nd of FEBRUARY DUE TO CIRCUMSTANCES BEYOND OUR CONTROL IT WILL STILL BE IN O’LOUGHLINGS GAA CLUB AT 8.30
MYLES O REILLY FROM AXA INSURANCE WAS TO ATTEND THE ORIGINAL DATE, AT THE MOMENT WE WILL TAKE IT THAT HE CAN MAKE THE NEW DATE, MYLES WILL GIVE A SHORT PRESENTATION FOLLOWED BY A QUESTION AND ANSWER SESSION. HE WILL BE AVAILABLE LATER TO DISCUSS ANY INDIVIDUAL QUERIES OF ANY MEMBER
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This story happened a while ago in Dublin , and even though it sounds like an Alfred Hitchcock tale, it’s true.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
John Bradford, a Dublin University student, was on the side of the road hitch-hiking on a very dark night and in the midst of a big storm.
The night was rolling on and no car went by. The storm was so strong he could hardly see a few feet ahead of him.
Suddenly, he saw a car slowly coming towards him and stopped.
John , desperate for shelter and without thinking about it, got into the car and closed the door…. Only to realise there was nobody behind the wheel and the engine wasn’t on.
The car started moving slowly. John looked at the road ahead and saw a curve approaching. Scared, he started to pray, begging for his life.
Then, just before the car hit the curve, a hand appeared out of nowhere through the window, and turned the wheel. John , paralysed with terror, watched as the hand came through the window, but never touched or harmed him.
Shortly thereafter, John saw the lights of a pub appear down the road, so, gathering strength; he jumped out of the car and ran to it.
Wet and out of breath, he rushed inside and started telling everybody about the horrible experience he had just had.
A silence enveloped the pub when everybody realised he was crying… And wasn‘t drunk.
Suddenly, the door opened, and two other people walked in from the dark and stormy night.. They, like John , were also soaked and out of breath. Looking around, and seeing John Bradford sobbing at the bar, one said to the other….
Look Paddy….there’s that f*^%$ idiot that got in the car while we were pushing it!!!!
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