KAS-118

Is going to be 'virtual' this years https://www.autosport.com/wec/news/149455/virtual-le-mans-24-hours-announced

@Bazza 907I believe it might be discretionary by the individual Council https://www.gov.uk/council-tax/second-homes-and-empty-properties

Hmmm.... 🤔 Darwism says that we evolve - but clearly the acts of a few suggest that some remain quite Neolithic!!! https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/11638154/scuffles-protests-london-coronavirus-lockdown/

Wow, of all the things about Coronavirus to think about and investigate - its nice to know that the issue of whether its feminine or masculine has been resolved. https://edition.cnn.com/2020/05/16/world/academie-franciase-covid-feminine-trnd/index.html

Looks really nice 👍

Yeah, thats a good point. Major Roads on the strategic road network are funded by central government. Even Local Roads, which are the responsibility of the Local Authority do receive at least some of their funding from Government Grants. https://www.loc.gov/law/help/infrastructure-funding/englandandwales.php

@Barrykearley - someone once mentioned to me that it was transported to Gibraltar and then sat on the dock, in the sun, for ages. I don't know if that's true - nor do I understand, if it is, why hat happened. I also don't understand why it was then apparently brought back to the UK. It's had a vey intriguing, if somewhat harsh, life. Its sad that such a great car hasn't been cherished more - and I hope that whoever owns it now has, or is intending to, restore it to its former glories. Even compared to the Evija I think the Esprit can hold its own in terms of looks.

You're quite right - in some of those countries (including China) where restrictions have been lifted there has then been an increase. I agree with what Johnson said - that you need to be cautious and not risk what has been achieved by opening things up too soon. I can't help but think the current easing has been more politically lead - to try and appease; rather than scientifically lead. I actually think they should make it a requirement to wear masks on Public transports or when you go shopping. Not because they will necessarily 'seal' you from the virus - but because its limits its transmissions by restricting the 'splash' area of coughs and sneezes.

I certainly agree with the sentiment - it would be nice that if at all times 'debate' was inquisitorial rather than adversarial. But in reality, that's probably going to remain utopian aspiration. Unfortunately the world is inhabited by too many people trying to make personal gain, even if that's to satisfy an egotistical need only. You only have to look at the way that some people spread false information and/or deliberately mislead - seeming to get some perverse gratification in being disruptive. As you say, it's all rather puerile and rather sad - and you would have thought that perhaps we could have risen above these more 'Neandertalistic' traits - we can but hope for future improvement.

It's a difficult one isn't it - as there's an awful lot of commuters who live outside London and Greater London - who (used) to travel to work in London. Plus, London brings in a lot of investment to the country that benefits elsewhere. Not saying other areas shouldn't also receive assistance - but it should also be recognised that London has an a lot of non-London-resident workers

I wonder why it never made it to the intended recipient!? It was meant for the purchasers son-in-law in Gibralter wasn't it? Wondered if it was either due to some import tax - but that wouldn't make sense under the free movement of good regulations current at the time - or the purchasers daughter and son-in-law fell out? All a bit weird.......

@Dan E - I'm afraid it is true https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-52677059

Thats a lovely looking car - and a great back-story 😎

@scotty435 - yeah, it will be good to see how the teams are shaping up - and whether Williams have made significant improvement. I have to say though, that I think its a shame that the grid size is now so small to what it was in say the 80's.

2008 I believe

Sure, it would have to apply to all teams, British or otherwise. I don't agree with any such exemptions when peoples lives are at stake

@pete - I don't see why the 'team members' can't be kept separate from the Silverstone staff - hence effectively being isolated from everyone else?

I see the 'R' number has gone up https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-52677194 ☹️

@gghc87 - I understand that it didn't have a happy ending - and ended stuck on the dock in Gibralter. Do you know why that was - and what eventually happened to it?

Just a heads up - but the Esprit Restoration is currently on Quest

I see there's been yet another announcement of the Government aiming to get at least 6 EV Charging Points in every Service Station within the next 3 years; and providing 6,000 Rapid Chargers of 150-350KW by 2035. It's estimated that they could provide enough charge for a 120 to 145 mile range in 15mins. However, the article also says that it may enable the ban of ICE cars to be brought forwards. https://www.pocket-lint.com/cars/news/152205-uk-government-reveals-ambitious-plans-for-new-rapid-charge-points-countrywide

Well at least the British Grand Prix(s) are back on https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/52677294

Hmmm...so they don't want you to use Public Transport - but now they try and charge you off the roads. The 'usual' joined up thinking..... Having said that - TFL did need a bail-out; maybe they're just desperate for the money!?

Its good to see something like this - but, in my experience, you'll get a lot of interest at first, but then it will die down and quietly forgotten about. Perhaps there could be someway of this being linked to the various Lotus Forums and other social media - so it could remain more active by being 'there' when people log on? Its just that unless I'm missing something - the link appears merely on their own Website - and perhaps not a lot of people would log in on that everyday?

True - the original question was "Is it wise to put all "our" faith in electric only cars which will require probably 25 million charging stations minimum from 11 thousand today. Shouldn't we also be looking at other alternatives hydrogen maybe or even liquid nitrogen :-" So, as things stand at the moment, non-Petrol/Diesel propulsion is either: 1) Battery Electric - what for cars is currently the favoured alternative fuel choice; 2) Hydrogen Fuel Cell - which is still actually electric - is being looked at, but the general consensus is its more suitable for large commercial vehicles or power generation itself; 3) Hydrogen being combusted directly in an engine - this once was looked at but I'm not aware of any significant investigation going on at it at the moment; or 4) Liquid Nitrogen. Hydrogen as a fuel has storage issues, there is concern you need to use a lot of power to extract it, water vapour is a green house gas and for its mass it doesn't give much power. You need a whole new infrastructure to provide it - it is bulky and therefore inefficient to transport. Liquid Nitrogen I know little about, other than would imagine it takes a lot of energy to keep it in Liquid State - and you would also need a whole new infrastructure to supply it. BEV, has most research going on at the moment. You can charge from home - as long as there is electricity in the area you can provide a charger - and indeed some Charging Stations are using solar to power these. The BEV vehicle can be used as a power storage device itself - and hence balance the Grid better. More and more chargers are being installed; battery performance is improving and battery costs are set to fall. So, given the fact that it takes time to plan ahead - and be prepared for the ICE being banned - to me it seems a no-brainer in what the Government should be investing in now. Indeed, if I were a manufacturer who was brining out a new range of cars - I would be diverting my research into BEV's and not producing new chassis for ICE.