The Geneva Salon headlines might have been dominated by the launch of Ferrari’s LaFerrari, the McLaren P1 and Lamborghini’s outrageous Veneno, but back in the real world I thought the most significant news was Peugeot’s HYBrid air technology that cleverly combines an internal combustion engine – it can be petrol or diesel – with compressed air to deliver 97.4mpg and CO2 levels of just 69G/km.
It’s due to go on sale in 2016 and is just the sort of ground breaking technology that would be ideally suited to the new format of our driving day in June. That probably won’t make it, but with the urban driving course being set up by Castle Combe plus an economy challenge the day promises more attractions and appeal to the manufacturers than before.
The day couldn’t be run without the support of many of our friends in the industry, including Nissan. However, not unreasonably, in return Tom Barnard wants our help in finding the highest mileage, original, Micra in our region.
Launched 30 years ago this year it was a landmark car for Nissan with its 1993 version becoming the first Japanese car to win the European Car Of The Year award. So, I would ask all of those with outlets in the region to start the search.
Talking of support the Group will always be indebted to Castle Combe’s Howard Strawford (left) who passed away at the end of February, aged 78. I was unable to attend the funereal due to copy deadlines, but I know that Reg Burnard was there on both a personal basis and as Group representative.
I have also asked Reg to look into getting a plaque commissioned as a Group memorial to Howard at the track to be unveiled at the driving day.
Ian Adcock | Chairman WGMW
