Rallying

Oil hit $132 per barrel for a while today, that is over double what it was this timne last year, so petrol/diesel is going to get more expensive.

We've always tried to group trips together so that we don't run out for just one thing, but these latest rises are going to make us even more careful about using both the big vans.

There's always a background anount of to-ing and fro-ing, but at nearly £90 a fill-up, it is indeed getting very pricy.

Peter

-- Peter A Forbes Prepair Ltd, Rushden, UK snipped-for-privacy@prepair.co.uk

£90 for a fill up, I put £84 in today for 3/4 of a tank, for a van that is always half full or more I am getting 38 mpg just by sticking religiously to correct road speeds.

Lowest we have seen is about 25mpg with trailer and full load on the motorway, best was nearly 40mpg when we left to come home from somewhere in Lincolnshire and realised that none of us had any money on us and the van was 1/4 full....

Peter

-- Peter & Rita Forbes Email: snipped-for-privacy@easynet.co.uk

With a 3. litre V8 petrol, one doesn't expect much in the way of economy & the aggregate according to the onboard computer is 25mpg. It is indeed getting expensive - nut hands up those who see it falling or not a sneaky way of reducing our annual mileage.

When I started in 1958 (Jeeze, that's fifty years just about now - gosh) it was 4/6d for a gallon of five star, but I was on an apprentices wages. Is it a great deal more expensive now I wonder?

regards,

Kim Siddorn

Peter

-- Peter & Rita Forbes Email: snipped-for-privacy@easynet.co.uk

When I had the misfortune to be locked into a daily 100+ mile commute, I bought a Citroen AX diesel (great car) and averaged nearly 75mpg. Now I am lucky to get 45mpg from the Suzuki Wagon R and fuel costs on trips out do have to be considered.

Still off to Lamport next weekend though - I hope there will be enough people able to justify the cost of hauling and running an engine there to make it worthwhile!

Nick H

Currently looking like you might get the good weather for Saturday, but Sunday and Monday are forecast pretty grim. Looking back on NG archives I note my comments Re. last year's Lamport rally :-

Perhaps I won't bother this year.

Nick H

The weather forecast has deteriorated noticeably in the past 36 hours, heavy rain and a 5 deg drop in temperatures, means that not many folks will be going to anything outdoors this holiday weekend.

Peter

-- Peter A Forbes Prepair Ltd, Rushden, UK snipped-for-privacy@prepair.co.uk

Terrific, Lamport looks less and less attractive. Any suggestions re alternatives closer to W.London? If I'm going to have a miserable day out I'd at least like not to have to drive too far to get there! How about the steam and vintage show at the Milestones museum in Basingstoke

- I've never been, any engine content?

Nick H

Lot of Thorneycroft-related stuff, never been there either, but it's a brand new venue (or was) so should be good. My only reservation is that it is a 'themed' venue with all that implies.

Old Glory had a few articles around the time it opened, probably 5 years ago?

Peter

-- Peter & Rita Forbes Email: snipped-for-privacy@easynet.co.uk

You could try the Cuckoo Fair at Laughton, East Sussex (near Lewes). Some of your friends from the NHES are showing there.

Not if you're going to get soaked to the skin it isn't, and we like going to Lamport!

Peter

-- Peter A Forbes Prepair Ltd, Rushden, UK snipped-for-privacy@prepair.co.uk

I do seem to recall that one being mentioned at the last club night. Lewes is quite a schlep from W.London though - probably further than Lamport. I think we are going to give the Surrey Steam and Country fair Nr. Epsom a go.

Nick H

Goodness me, you are a gloomy lot! As someone who spends almost every weekend from Easter to the end of September in a field somewhere, my experience is that you get moist about three times a year. It's like riding a motorbike to work: on the face of it you are likely to get a soaking quite frequently whereas in actual fact I used to get wet four or five times a year.

Forecasts and predictions are all fine & dandy but it actually has to rain on YOU before it matters.

Don't be put off, go and have some fun Nick, take something unusual and a chair with a fishing umbrella. If you get soggy, you can console yourself that I'll be at the Royal Gunpowder Mills just off the A10 junction all weekend, right in the centre of the predicted path.

Nice on Saturday I understand................

Have a good holiday all.

regards,

Kim Siddorn

Now I'm even more confused! The pdf tells us the price per gallon per year? Erm ..........

Help! regards,

Kim Siddorn

Up to a point, Charles I would agree, but you cannot just completely ignore a cost which was manageable but now threatens a lot of private motoring for most folks.

Since we moved factory I can now walk to work instead of the 40 miles each way we used to do daily, so our 'going to work' costs are not an issue, but we still have to pay for anything outside work, and the cost of fuel for Nuenen for example was over £120, not exactly pocket money any more.

Any rally that is more than a couple of hours away is now under threat, especially if there's a chance of poor weather....

Peter

-- Peter A Forbes Prepair Ltd, Rushden, UK snipped-for-privacy@prepair.co.uk