I'd noticed a big increase in classics on the road too, it's pretty
supprising just how many of these cars spend most of their time
hidden
away in garages. Unfortunately since my spit engine siezed on
Sunday I
shall have to conserve the 1/2 tank of unleaded I've got in our
Proton.
David
On 15 Sep 00, at 3:29, Richard B Gosling wrote:
>
> Those on this list the far side of the ocean from Coventry, will
> probably be
> unaware of the dramatic events here in the UK this week, protesting
> over fuel tax. Here in the UK, tax accounts for around 75% of the
> cost of petrol, which costs around $4.50/US gallon. We have at
> last decided to do something serious about getting the message
> across to the government - lorry drivers and farmers (with help
> from fishermen and other groups this government has particularly
> shafted) have been blockading fuel refineries and depots, causing a
> nation-wide shortage of fuel. By Wednesday most petrol stations in
> the country had run out of unleaded. The blockade was finally
> lifted yesterday, but it will be some time before all petrol
> stations have fuel - very few do now, and they will only sell to
> emergency services, not the public. This has seriously
> inconvenieced almost everyone across the country, but still the
> majority of the public support and back the blockade.
>
> Anyway, now for the LBC-relevant stuff. The last type of fuel to
> run out, (and
> some places never did run out) was LRP, the replacement for Leaded
> 4* petrol, which cannot be used in any cars with a catalyst (any
> under about 8 years old). So, everyone who keeps an old Triumph or
> MG in their garage at home, has got it out, parked their modern
> car, and is cruising around with few fuel worries at all! I don't
> think I have seen this many Triumphs on the road at any other point
> all summer! As I was filling up on Wednesday evening, the queue at
> the station consisted of a Triumph Dolomite 1500, an MG BGT, and
> Daffy. We all stood around having a good laugh about how we were
> coming out best from the situation, and were laughing particularly
> at the Rover 400 driver in front of us, who had been forcing LRP
> into his car (despite the fact that the nozzle doesn't fit, to
> prevent you using the wrong fuel), and the 500 quid bill he will
> face for a new catalyst at his next MOT. Cruel, maybe, but we had
> to see the funny side of it!
>
> Richard and Daffy (still motoring, while all around us run dry)
------- End of forwarded message -------
Dr David Armitage
School of Pharmaceutical
Sciences
Boots Science Building
University of Nottingham
University Park
Nottingham
NG7 2RD
+44 115 8466278
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