Following the tradition of the elegant Haynes Classic Makes Series, this 160 page hardback book by Russell Hayes, who has worked for TV programmes to include “Top Gear”, “The Car’s the Star” and “Driven”, provides an insightful and fully illustrated history of Lotus. Beginning with Colin Chapman and his Austin Seven Special (the first Lotus), it traces the development of the company and its cars through half a century of pioneering sports car production to the latest models and beyond. Supported by authoritative driving impressions, technical information and buying advice, this book is the essential companion for all Lotus enthusiasts
 
To be in with a chance of winning a hard back first edition copy of this large format, illustrated book from Haynes Publishing Ltd., spend £5 or more over the counter at the cafe from 6pm on Wednesday 19th December at the monthly “British Sports & Performance Car Night” and receive a raffle ticket, draw at 10pm

Sunday 16th December    
Departs the Ace at 10.30am

The cafe's annual Christmas Toy Run into central London departs at 10.30am on Sunday 16th December, visiting two hospitals.

As always, any surplus gifts will be distributed to various children's homes and groups.
Please bring gifts that are unwrapped.

Because of allergies hospitals advise against stuffed toys and sweets - the nursing staff however may appreciate some sweeties!

On returning to the cafe, there will be prizes for the "Best Dressed Bike" and the "Best Dressed Rider" - and a hot cuppa!

The cafe opens at 7.30am on the morning of the run. Please check in at the cafe on arrival with “Santa and his helpers”, who once again are kindly looking after the logistics involved with this special occasion.

Suzuki successfully raised over £4,000 for charity at Motorcycle Live, which took place from 17-25 November at Birmingham’s NEC. The Japanese brand’s hospitality area, from voluntary donations for free hot refreshments, raised over £3,000 for the automotive industry’s BEN fund, while the Vintage Parts display and race bike build raised over £1,000 for the Birmingham Children’s Hospital.

The pop-up coffee stop, situated on Suzuki’s show stand, has become a Motorcycle Live mainstay in recent years. Providing an area for show-goers to enjoy a break from wandering the halls, grab a hot beverage and take the weight off their feet for a few minutes, it served over 8,500 cups of tea and coffee over the nine-day show. 

This year Suzuki raised a total of £3,527.50 for BEN, an independent charity and dedicated partner to the automotive industry, providing support for life for its people and their family dependents, whether that be financial, physical, mental or social.

Meanwhile, Suzuki’s Vintage Parts Programme always provides visitors with an impressive array of classic road and race bikes, and this year rebuilt the very first RG500 race bike built in 1973, before it was raced in Grands Prix in 1974. Collecting for Birmingham Children’s Hospital during the restoration, £1,036.61 was raised over the course of the show.

Suzuki GB head of marketing, Fiona Cole, commented, “Every year Suzuki takes the opportunity to raise money for charity at Motorcycle Live. The hospitality area always proves to be incredibly popular with visitors to the show and whilst the drinks are free, we encourage visitors to make a donation to our nominated charities and we’re incredibly thankful to everyone who made kind donations to help us raise as much as we did for the two superb causes.”

To find out more news and views from Suzuki, visit www.bikes.suzuki.co.uk.

The world’s top drivers would never mix alcohol with driving – so nobody else should. This is the message from former Formula 1 World Champion Nigel Mansell CBE this festive period.

He is backing the IAM RoadSmart ‘Drive Like a Champion’ anti drink-drive campaign this month (December).

President of IAM RoadSmart for over a decade, Nigel believes everyone can be a winner on the road – simply by thinking ahead, anticipating the road … and most importantly in the run up to the festive season, not touching a drop of alcohol when getting behind the wheel.

He said: “Quite simply drink and drug driving is for losers. On the track you need to be in the best possible form at all times. This equally applies to anyone driving on the road. You have your own life, those of your passengers and everyone around you in the palm of your hands.

“Drink driving increases your risk of being a potential killer behind the wheel. The responsibility of driving a road vehicle safely is just as great as when driving a Formula 1 car – if not more so.”

Nigel’s advice comes as statistics in IAM RoadSmart’s 2018 Safety Culture Survey (reference 1) show there is still some shocking thinking about getting behind the wheel after drinking or taking drugs among UK motorists.

Each year since 2015 IAM RoadSmart, the UK’s biggest independent road safety charity, has surveyed over 2,000 drivers about their worries, fears and attitudes.

This year’s findings included:

•        7% of drivers say it’s acceptable to drive when they thought they might have had too much to drink – a figure that rises to 13% of 17-34 year olds

•        7% say it’s acceptable to have driven after using drink and marijuana (12% of 17-34 year olds)

However the majority support a tough line on punishment and rules around drink-driving. The survey found:

•        88% support alcohol interlocks to stop those who have been convicted of drink driving starting the car if they are drunk

•        88% support fitting all new cars with such technologies

•        79% support lowering the limit in England and Wales to that in Scotland

•        Drink and drug driving is the top priority for police enforcement according to the survey

Nigel added: “Be a champion of the road like me this Christmas and New Year. Do the right thing for your family, friends and other road users. Drive safe, drive sober and go #NoneForTheRoad.”