The “Scandinavian flick”

Posted on 1st September 2016

In the 60’s, (Scandinavian) rally-car drivers popularised a technique now known as the “Scandinavian flick”.

The point of the technique, is to allow better car control by “steering” the car with the throttle (By feathering the throttle and maintaining the line through the corner whilst freely spinning the rear wheels and counter acting with opposite lock on the steering wheel.)

1: Begin by positioning the car toward the outside of the corner’s entry point.

2: Just before the normal turn-in point, quickly steer the wheel away from the corner—this is the “flick.”

3: You’re at the proper turn-in point but truning the wrong way. QUICKLY, turn in sharply while simultaneously lifting off the throttle (you might also want to stab at the brakes – this brings the weight of the car to the front, and allows the now lighter rear end to loose traction easier).

4: Get it right, and the rear end of the car will come around and begin a slide toward the outside of the corner. Meanwhile, the front of the car will be pointing towards the apex of the corner.

5: To avoid spinning out, and to maintain the proper trajectory of the car, counter steer (turn into the slide) while gently reapplying the throttle.

6: As the car drifts past the apex of the corner, straighten the steering in a gradual way while carefully feathering the throttle to keep the car pointed toward the corner exit.

 

 

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Rightsure Insurance is a trading name of Bedford Insurance Group 

Specialising in:

© 2016 Bedford Insurance. All rights reserved.
W E Bedford Insurance Services (Wimbledon) Ltd, Argent House, Argent Court, Hook Rise South,
Tolworth, KT6 7LD is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.
Our FCA Register number is 305737

Cost of Motoring across the planet

Posted on 31st August 2016

Cost of Motoring across the planet…

United States

  • Average Cost of Vehicle        – £15,250
  • Fuel Cost (per Litre)             – £0.33 (Unleaded)    – £0.38 (Diesel)
  • Average Cost of Insurance   – £695
  • GDP (Per Capita)                  – £42,266

United Kingdom

  • Average Cost of Vehicle        – £19,000
  • Fuel Cost (per Litre)             – £1.09 (Unleaded)    – £1.10 (Diesel)
  • Average Cost of Insurance   – £715
  • GDP (Per Capita)                  – £31,215

Venezuela

  • Average Cost of Vehicle        – £17,500
  • Fuel Cost (per Litre)             – £0.46 (Unleaded)    – £0.46 (Diesel)
  • Average Cost of Insurance   – £196
  • GDP (Per Capita)                  – £10,900

Brazil

  • Average Cost of Vehicle        – £22,340
  • Fuel Cost (per Litre)             – £0.89 (Unleaded)    – £0.75 (Diesel)
  • Average Cost of Insurance   – £929
  • GDP (Per Capita)                  – £11,600

Germany

  • Average Cost of Vehicle        – £17,660
  • Fuel Cost (per Litre)             – £1.09 (Unleaded)    – £0.98 (Diesel)
  • Average Cost of Insurance   – £1,197
  • GDP (Per Capita)                 – £35,757

Russia

  • Average Cost of Vehicle        – £14,745
  • Fuel Cost (per Litre)             – £0.44 (Unleaded)    – £0.42 (Diesel)
  • Average Cost of Insurance   – £50 (!!)
  • GDP (Per Capita)                  – £18,500

United Arab Emirates

  • Average Cost of Vehicle        – £16,500
  • Fuel Cost (per Litre)             – £0.33 (Unleaded)    – £0.34 (Diesel)
  • Average Cost of Insurance   – £412
  • GDP (Per Capita)                  – £53,082

South Africa

  • Average Cost of Vehicle        – £16,500
  • Fuel Cost (per Litre)             – £0.71 (Unleaded)    – £0.58 (Diesel)
  • Average Cost of Insurance   – £263
  • GDP (Per Capita)                  – £9,960

India

  • Average Cost of Vehicle        – £8,664
  • Fuel Cost (per Litre)             – £0.73 (Unleaded)    – £0.55 (Diesel)
  • Average Cost of Insurance   – £220
  • GDP (Per Capita)                  – £4,605

Japan

  • Average Cost of Vehicle        – £19,795
  • Fuel Cost (per Litre)             – £0.99 (Unleaded)    – £0.83 (Diesel)
  • Average Cost of Insurance   – £210
  • GDP (Per Capita)                  – £28,230

Australia

  • Average Cost of Vehicle        – £14,785
  • Fuel Cost (per Litre)             – £0.71 (Unleaded)    – £0.72 (Diesel)
  • Average Cost of Insurance   – £675
  • GDP (Per Capita)                  – £34,430

*Example vehicle used – Volkswagen Golf 1.4

 

Come and talk to us to see how much money you could save on your van, car, home or landlord insurance. 

Buy online or call us Free on 0333 323 0350

Rightsure Insurance is a trading name of Bedford Insurance Group 

Specialising in:

© 2016 Bedford Insurance. All rights reserved.
W E Bedford Insurance Services (Wimbledon) Ltd, Argent House, Argent Court, Hook Rise South,
Tolworth, KT6 7LD is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.
Our FCA Register number is 305737

Top MOT tips

Posted on 30th August 2016

MOT Tips – Its about that time of year, your MOT is due on your car or van…Research from the Driver and Vehicles Standards Agency (DVSA) state that 40% of cars and half of all vans fail their MOT at the first attempt and more often than not it’ll be something trivial that lets you down.

An MOT test is required by law to ensure a vehicle is roadworthy and with ramifications such as a £1000 fine, penalty points and loss of insurance cover it is imperative to have that valid MOT certificate for your vehicle – here are some top tips for getting your vehicle through its MOT.

 

Research shows that around 1.5 million vehicles fail their MOT due to minor issues such as too little tyre tread, empty windscreen washer fluid and faulty bulbs; highlighting the fact that many failures could be avoided with a few simple checks before taking a vehicle to be tested.

 

  • Approximately 30% of cars fail due to faulty lighting. A simple check of your lights, both inside and outside before your MOT test takes a couple of minutes and well doing  – if any need replacing always follow the manufacturers advice.
  • Most vehicles have two brake lights integrated into other rear facing lights and a break strip light. Ask a friend or family member to stand behind your car when pressing the brake pedal to check they work.
  • Check your vehicles number plates are legal. There are plenty of helpful guides online to see if yours conforms.
  • Tyre problems are a major factor in MOT fails. The legal minimum tread depth is 1.6mm, although we would recommend you fit new tyres well before then as tyres can cause a number of issues whilst driving, including noise, driver comfort, suspension etc. Check that all tyre pressures are correct and that the tyres are not damaged.
  • Check your vehicles seats to ensure they don’t move around when driving. Seatbelts should not be frayed and in good working order, you can quickly pull on all seatbelts to make sure they react correctly too.
  • Check your windscreen carefully before an MOT, any chips or cracks larger than 1 cm could cause your vehicle to fail. Ensure your wipers clean the windscreen well enough to give you a clear view of the road.
  • Make sure you check your windscreen washer fluid is topped up sufficiently as some garages will charge extra to top it up. An empty windscreen washer fluid container is one of the biggest causes of MOT fails.
  • Ensure your vehicle has adequate levels of oil. Oil is a vital component of all engines and lack of it can seriously damage your vehicle. Fuel is required to test emissions and an MOT centre is under no obligation to put fuel in your vehicle to complete the MOT.
  • Press your horn firmly and make sure it sounds well. Your horn should be clearly labelled and in an easily accessible place.
  • Read your previous MOT test comments, as they may advise that something like a tyre needs changing shortly. If you don’t understand, ask the mechanic that conducted your test.

 

Come and talk to us to see how much money you could save on your van, car, home or landlord insurance. 

Buy online or call us Free on 0333 323 0350

Rightsure Insurance is a trading name of Bedford Insurance Group 

Specialising in:

© 2016 Bedford Insurance. All rights reserved.
W E Bedford Insurance Services (Wimbledon) Ltd, Argent House, Argent Court, Hook Rise South,
Tolworth, KT6 7LD is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.
Our FCA Register number is 305737

Cheapest cars to insure for 2016

Posted on 30th August 2016

Cheapest cars to insure for 2016

Increasingly, Insurance costs are one of the biggest factors to consider when buying a new car – below are the best vehicles on the market to help you cut down on your costs..

  • Parking your car in a garage overnight will help to lower your premium
  • Advanced driving courses can also help reduce costs.
  • Black box policies, (telematics data to monitor how safe drivers are) are becoming a popular method for lowering insurance premiums, especially with the young.
  • However, simply buying a car that falls into the lowest of insurance groups is the most effective way to reduce insurance costs. Insurers group vehicles from 1 to 50 – those in lower groups pay less.

Volkswagen Up

Considered one of the best city cars on sale for the past few years and are amongst the cheapest cars to insure as they fall into group 1 rating.

Starting from £8.995, with a 1.0-litre petrol engine with 59bhp.

Renault Twingo

The Twingo falls into group 2 and has a 1.0-litre engine producing 69bhp.

Starting price is £9,495 – but the engine is placed below the boot, giving the Twingo a lot of storage space and an impressive turning circle as the front wheels don’t have an engine getting in the way.

Hyundai i10

The i10 has a a group 1 rating with prices start at £8,995 for the smallest engine – a 1.0-litre with 65bhp.

Vauxhall Corsa

The Vauxhall Corsa is one of the most popular hatchbacks on sale in the UK and the latest model arrives not only with a lower price tag than its predecessor, but promises of small insurance quotes too.

It starts from £9,745, but it is a bigger car than the rest on this list. CarBuyer says it represents excellent value for money and is a great choice if you want don’t want a city car but still need small costs. The 1.2-litre engine sneaks into insurance group 2.

Skoda Citigo

Skoda is owned by Volkswagen, and so purchasing a Citigo will get you a rebadged VW for a lower price! It shares the 59bhp 1.0-litre engine, maintains the group 1 insurance rating and is priced at £8,275.

Come and talk to us to see how much money you could save on your van, car, home or landlord insurance. 

Buy online or call us Free on 0333 323 0350

Rightsure Insurance is a trading name of Bedford Insurance Group 

Specialising in:

© 2016 Bedford Insurance. All rights reserved.
W E Bedford Insurance Services (Wimbledon) Ltd, Argent House, Argent Court, Hook Rise South,
Tolworth, KT6 7LD is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.
Our FCA Register number is 305737

Formula G At Santa Pod!

Posted on 23rd August 2016

It feels like it was just yesterday that we made our initial trip up to Santa Pod back on a rainy day in March to see the opening rounds of Formula G and the Fueltopia Barrel Sprint but we were back over the weekend as the competitions start drawing to a close and big finale of Gymkhana Grid is upon us next month.

An awful lot of tyres have been torn through, hearts broken and dreams have come true for the few that will now travel to Gymkhana Grid to face off against the like of Ken Block and Petter Solberg! Its a rare opportunity for grass roots drivers to face the icons of the motorsport.

But amongst the tyre shredding it was a full on weekend at Santa Pod, with Jet Cars, Monster Trucks, Stunt Bikes and Quads – I frankly didnt know where to look!

It can be a bit repetitive, watching the cars fly up the quarter mile strip time after time but there were plenty of cars hitting sub 10 second times – that golden marker that would see you’re car hitting the dizzy heights that have become all to familiar in the Fast & The Furious Franchise!

The weekend wouldn’t have been complete without a good turnout for the Fueltopia Barrel Sprint and Formula G competition, which is drawing to a conclusion with just the one round left and all to play for in the championships!

Check out our gallery of some of the stand out cars on show! And watch out for our exclusive video taken on the Sunday which will showcase the Formula G championship – it’ll be posted on our facebook page in the near future!

 

 

 

Come and talk to us to see how much money you could save on your van, car, home or landlord insurance. 

Buy online or call us Free on 0333 323 0350

Rightsure Insurance is a trading name of Bedford Insurance Group 

Specialising in:

© 2016 Bedford Insurance. All rights reserved.
W E Bedford Insurance Services (Wimbledon) Ltd, Argent House, Argent Court, Hook Rise South,
Tolworth, KT6 7LD is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.
Our FCA Register number is 305737

Will Brexit affect Insurance?

Posted on 21st July 2016

Frankly – any information regarding the knock on effect of the Brexit vote remains guess work at best and so when analysing the insurance market it won’t come as a surprise to hear that we can only theorise, however these are well founded predictions…

As we found out on the dawn of a new age here in the UK, as the pound dropped out immediately with the world spiraling into panic having heard the UK had voted to leave the EU, everyone hates uncertainty. We definitely don’t know how to react to it. This could impact on insurance premiums as the uncertainty creates less demand, which of course will reduce returns. Lower returns mean that insurers will earn less and they will have to increase customers’ premiums to balance the effect.

“Overseas” insurers rely on the EU’s ‘pass-porting’ rules that allow them to operate anywhere in the EU. Should this change it could have a profound effect on the insurance market. The FCA have not commented on the possibility of ending this practice but it will be reviewed and we expect changes. Potentially, we may see the withdrawal of EU insurers – causing a drop in competition & drive prices higher for customers.

Travel Insurance will get more expensive as the E111 is to be scrapped. Thus reducing competition in the travel insurance industry – leading to an increase in prices. Under the current regime, it is expected that if a policyholder falls ill while overseas they will be treated in a local hospital on the healthcare arrangement that exists across the EU. If the arrangement is removed  then it is likely that policyholders will make larger claims, driving premiums up in order to compensate.

Something that may be affected in all trades will be the demand for redundancy cover. Fear of the job security could create a situation where by customers might seek to protect themselves from losing their employment by purchasing unemployment cover.

Gender-specific pricing might return – The EU abolished gender-specific insurance rates despite the well-known fact that teenage boys have a worse driving record than teenage girls-  the UK might push to repeal this law.

The enterprise Act  has now been enacted, stating that all insurance policies (consumer and commercial) incepted from 4 May 2017 will need claims to be paid within a reasonable time. Failure to do so could lead to compensation for any resulting loss. Cautious brokers should be ensuring they are familiar with the Act and can support their customers in good time.

 

 

Come and talk to us to see how much money you could save on your van, car, home or landlord insurance. 

Buy online or call us Free on 0333 323 0350

Rightsure Insurance is a trading name of Bedford Insurance Group 

Specialising in:

© 2016 Bedford Insurance. All rights reserved.
W E Bedford Insurance Services (Wimbledon) Ltd, Argent House, Argent Court, Hook Rise South,
Tolworth, KT6 7LD is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.
Our FCA Register number is 305737

Weight Saving – Car

Posted on 5th July 2016

Its fairly well documented, that if you crave more performance from your car then the cheapest and easiest thing to start with is weight reduction – assuming you don’t want or need the creature comforts in your car then gaining a much better weight:power ratio is very possible with some good old fashioned destruction! By destruction I mean tearing out bits that are not totally necessary.

  • Power to weight ratios are of great importance, if you’ve got a car that weighs 1000kg with 100bhp, that’s a ratio of 1000:100 (or 10:1.)
  • This means every horsepower has to move 10kg.
  • Therefore, if you can save 100kg in weight, that ratio becomes 9:1 and will equate to a 10-percent increase in acceleration.
  • You’ll get more MPG too

All sounds a bit too good to be true….so whats involved?

Trim – The easiest and cheapest place to start is removing everything you don’t want/need – plastic trim, seats, excess metal and removing any sound deadening, just removing the carpet can save 7-8kg for a start.

Clearing out all the old tools and rubbish knocking around your boot can save more weight than you think. It’s also worth knowing that a full sized spare wheel on an older can weigh up to 20kg while a can of Tyreweld weighs next to sod all. When was the last time you got a puncture eh?

Seats – Standard seats weigh an awful lot, consider the electrics etc too. The average car seat can weigh up to 20kg so you can look at fitting some lightweight bucket seats. Available in reinforced fibreglass, Kevlar and carbon fibre, with some weighing as little as 5kg. Leather generally weighs more than cloth too.

Wheels – If you’re running steel wheels they can weigh anything up to 20kg each Some performance aftermarket wheels can weigh as little as 5kg per wheel. It also reduces the rotating mass hanging off your chassis which will reduce the stress on your suspension parts.

Windows/Glass – Glass is a heavy material, with its total weight being up to 50kg and so most race cars run poly carbonate windows which can weigh up to 60-percent less, strong and pretty much shatter proof. The first production car to use this was the Smart Fourtwo in 1998.

Poly carbonate windows also lower the car’s centre of gravity to improvement in handling.

Windscreens, sidelights & side windows are all available and you could add vents and sliders so you can remove the electric window motors too.

Also consider the sunroof, both the glass and the mechanism to open and close it weighs more than you might think.

Chassis – Using aftermarket adjustable suspension can save around 5kg per corner, Multi-pot alloy brake calipers weigh a lot less than standard single-piston steel units and work much better too, lightweight adjustable control arms are also popular.

Bodywork – Lightweight panels have been used in motor sport for some time now already but with advances in technology, making casts is getting easier and easier so more and more of these panels can be produced now a days, even the whole body can be custom-fabricated. Carbon fibre bonnets and tailgates, front wings, bumpers and even complete floor pans are available.

Engine – Your standard exhaust manifold, is likely to be made from cast iron – A stainless steel tubular version will save weight AND improve the flow of air giving you more power.

A Lightweight pulley set or racing steering wheel,  carbon propshaft, aluminium differential or lightweight gearbox housing, all add up! Aircraft grade materials are the latest, super strong and incredibly light material available.

Some even empty their washer fluid bottles and keep the fuel level to a minimum, extreme? Well think about it,  3 litres of washer water weighs 3kg while a full 40-litres of fuel weighs approximately 30kg.

An expensive option – a full titanium exhaust system. Titanium is similar in strength to steel BUT weighs less than half.

Electrics – I’m afraid you’ll have to stay well away from your big ICE install, but going completely the other way, if you are removing lots of stuff from the car then inevitably there will be a whole load of electrics that are associated with the removed parts – well the electrics can go too. You’ll want some support if you are not familiar with electrical looms in vehicles. They are notoriously messy to work with!

Normal lead-acid batteries are heavy but these can be replaced with more lightweight units, even a compact battery – if you’re not running too many other electrical systems.

Come and talk to us to see how much money you could save on your van, car, home or landlord insurance. 

Buy online or call us Free on 0333 323 0350

Rightsure Insurance is a trading name of Bedford Insurance Group 

Specialising in:

© 2016 Bedford Insurance. All rights reserved.
W E Bedford Insurance Services (Wimbledon) Ltd, Argent House, Argent Court, Hook Rise South,
Tolworth, KT6 7LD is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.
Our FCA Register number is 305737

US investigating fatal Tesla Autopilot crash

Posted on 1st July 2016

US investigating fatal Tesla Autopilot crash:-

A fatal crash involving a Tesla Model S running in Autopilot mode, believed to be the first such incident, is being investigated by US safety authorities.

The crash occurred in May on a Florida highway when a lorry pulled out in front of the Tesla. Neither the car’s occupant, 45-year old Joshua Brown, or its sensors saw the lorry. The car passed under the trailer, which struck high up the windscreen. The car came to rest several hundred yards down the road after striking a utility pole. Brown died from his injuries at the scene.

A statement released by Tesla described the circumstances of the crash: “Neither Autopilot nor the driver noticed the white side of the tractor trailer against a brightly lit sky, so the brake was not applied.

“The ride height of the trailer combined with its positioning across the road and the extremely rare circumstances of the impact caused the Model S to pass under the trailer, with the bottom of the trailer impacting the windshield of the Model S.”

The statement defended the Autopilot system’s safety record, noting that 130 million miles had been driven in Autopilot mode without a fatality, more than double the normal rate worldwide.

It also defended the safety of the Model S generally: “Had the Model S impacted the front or rear of the trailer, even at high speed, its advanced safety system would likely have prevented serious injury as it has in numerous other similar incidents.”

Both US and European crash testing organisations gave the Model S some of the highest marks for crash protection ever awarded.

Brown, a former Navy Seal and tech entrepreneur, was a noted fan of Tesla and the Autopilot system, posting 20 demonstration videos on Youtube. Only a month before he died, he posted a video of a near-miss with another truck in which he credited the Autopilot system with saving his life.

Before engaging Autopilot, drivers are required to acknowledge they recognise that it is “an assist feature that requires you to keep your hands on the steering wheel at all times,” and that “you need to maintain control and responsibility for your vehicle.” The driver can take over from Autopilot at any time, and the system sounds an alarm when it thinks the driver should.

The National Highway Transport Safety Administration was informed of the crash by Tesla and sent to team of investigators to the scene. It has yet to present its findings.

 

Come and talk to us to see how much money you could save on your van, car, home or landlord insurance. 

Buy online or call us Free on 0333 323 0350

Rightsure Insurance is a trading name of Bedford Insurance Group 

Specialising in:

© 2016 Bedford Insurance. All rights reserved.
W E Bedford Insurance Services (Wimbledon) Ltd, Argent House, Argent Court, Hook Rise South,
Tolworth, KT6 7LD is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.
Our FCA Register number is 305737

Insurance – The Basics: European Cover

Posted on 29th June 2016

European Cover – are you covered for in the EU under your motor policy?

With European Cover, most policies will provide you with the same level of cover as you have at home but for a limited period. This permitted period is usually between 30 and 90 days, but this can vary depending on your insurance company. Remember this is for cover in the EU and those countries that subscribe to the Motor Directives only. If you wish to travel outside these countries then it is vital you check with your insurance company to see what cover, if any, they will provide for you.

If you wish to stay longer than the permitted period in any of the EU countries then your policy cover will automatically drop down to the minimum required in that country (or Third Party Only, whichever is the greater). So, in the event of you having a “at fault” accident, there will be no cover for the damage to, or loss of, your vehicle. In some circumstances, you can obtain an extension to the permitted period at full policy cover, but this is at the discretion of your insurance company and will usually incur an additional premium.

If your motor policy in the UK is for comprehensive cover then subject to being within the timeframe and geographical limits stipulated, your cover will include any damage to your vehicle, whilst travelling in, or between, the countries by rail, air or sea[6]. If travelling by sea, some insurers will stipulate that cover will only be provided if the journey follows a recognised sea route and takes no longer than 65 hours[7]. Furthermore, if your car has been involved in an accident in a country which is covered by your comprehensive insurance policy, your insurers will also pay any reasonable costs of delivering the vehicle back to your main residence address in Great Britain, the Isle of Man or the Channel Islands. If your car is deemed a write-off, and has to be abandoned in a foreign country, the insurers will also pay for any customs duty which this incurs.

Many people will drive through a number of European countries, some of which will be members of the European Union or agree to their directives so, as previously mentioned, you’ll only need your Certificate of Insurance for proof of valid insurance. However, your trip may take you through countries which fall outside of the aforementioned rules and regulations[8]. To gain entry into these states you’ll need to have a ‘Green Card’. These are available from your insurance company and need to be requested in advance of your journey. Insurers will usually charge a small fee for the provision of a Green Card.

If you do find that you wish to visit a country which is not covered by your insurance certificate or the ‘Green Card’ then you are strongly advised to look at how to buy insurance cover before setting off on your journey.

Similar to your insurance in the United Kingdom, any damage which is the direct result of Riot, Civil Commotion, Acts of War, Terrorism and Earthquakes are specifically excluded. Some parts of Europe[9] (mainly Italy, Greece, Turkey, Romania and Bulgaria) are particularly prone to Earthquakes. If you are planning on travelling to these areas, please consider that your vehicle will not be covered as a result of Earthquake. War and Civil Commotion risks will also be excluded. Although most of Europe is free from conflict, there are regions in which the threat of conflict is high. With the current troubles in Eastern Ukraine and the long-running tensions in former Yugoslav nations; it is advisable to consider the consequences of driving your vehicle to these countries.

There are several oddities which occur across Europe in regards to motor insurance. If you are travelling to Croatia, your motor insurance certificate will need to include cover for Bosnia-Herzegovina as there is a 20-km stretch of road which joins Northern Croatia to the South and travels through Bosnia; this is not automatically covered by your insurance policy.

In Spain, it used to be law that if you were involved in a road accident the Spanish Police had the right to hold you and/or your vehicle and you needed to pay a ‘bail bond’ to secure your release. Any visitors to Spain who wished to drive their vehicle on Spanish roads had to provide proof that their insurance policy covered the releases of the above. However, since the law has been abolished your insurance policy no longer needs to provide cover for this.

In Hungary, if you are involved in an accident with a Hungarian citizen, you need to report the incident to the Association of Hungarian Insurance Companies and the Hungarian police will write you a statement which you need to show upon leaving the country.

If planning on driving in Turkey, your motor insurance certificate will be inspected upon arrival at the border. This certificate needs to provide proof that it covers your vehicle in both the European and Asian parts of Turkey; otherwise you will need to purchase relevant insurance at the border.

Finally, as well as making sure you have the correct cover whilst driving abroad, you need to make sure that you adhere to the local laws and customs of countries you visit.

 

Come and talk to us to see how much money you could save on your van, car, home or landlord insurance. 

Buy online or call us Free on 0333 323 0350

Rightsure Insurance is a trading name of Bedford Insurance Group 

Specialising in:

© 2016 Bedford Insurance. All rights reserved.
W E Bedford Insurance Services (Wimbledon) Ltd, Argent House, Argent Court, Hook Rise South,
Tolworth, KT6 7LD is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.
Our FCA Register number is 305737

Formula G & Fueltopia Barrel Sprint Motorsport – Santa Pod 01/05/2016

Posted on 4th May 2016

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What a weekend of motorsport to report on!

RightSure Insurance’s sponsored driver, Jake Wrecking Ball Archer was all set to be in action again over the bank holiday weekend as both Fueltopia Barrel Sprint and Formula G came to Santa Pod Raceway for a full on weekend of tyre shredding.

With AWD, RWD and front wheel drive classes available the events are open to newcomers and welcome new drivers to the competition.

There is a fantastic atmosphere at the events, with everyone  banding together to help and support those who might be having issues with their vehicles and if its even slightly possible, they’ll get as many cars out on the starting line as they possibly can!

Day One, and it was the turn of the Fueltopia Barrel Sprint boys, an event that couples speed reaction speed with agility…As the name suggest, a line of barrels are set out in a straight line, with two drivers tackling the course at the same time – accelerating towards the barrel, performing a full circle around the barrel and then flying off to the next. With the aim to get to the finish in the quickest time possible and without hitting the barrels – Its fast, furious and tests each driver to find that perfect line.

RightSure’s,  Jake Archer sadly had electrical issues and was unable to resolve the problems with the ECU…Jake was still to play a big part in the action helping support the other competitors and commentator for day 2!

Monster Energy’s Luke Woodham, is an established name, twice winning Ken Block’s Gymkhana Grid (Rear Wheel Drive Class) and a heavy association with the world of drifting is the man to beat. Seemingly at one with his menacing Nissan 200sx he consistently finds the perfect line and technique – winning the RWD competition on this occasion.

ScoobyClinic Racing’s Dmitrij Sribnyj, running in the all wheel drive class is on point every time I see him drive, that being said, he struggled this week allowing the other drivers to catch up to the current class leader.

Viper Motorsport is well represented – The garage that built Jake’s competition car also has Matt Miller and Andy Pritchard driving. Both had stories to tell from the weekend with Matt smashing his way through each round, all the way to the winners podium in the AWD class.

At the other end of the spectrum, Andy needed to replace the clutch in his car in order to compete, and so whilst he dashed off to get the clutch, the Viper Motor sport team, along with other drivers including Dmitrij and Jake hauled the gearbox out in preparation for the new clutch to turn up….it literally got down to the last few seconds before Andy was going to have to call it a day and the car was bumped started onto the start line…Andy, proceeded to put in a handful of extremely clean qualifying runs and was able to compete in the knockout stage in the afternoon – A wonderful story that brought everyone together and a huge round of applause greeted Andy as he put his qualifying runs together, minutes after the clutch had been installed.

Our video’s from the day are on our RightSure Youtube Channel – head over and have a look

Our gallery from both days can be found at the bottom of this article.

Day 2 and it was the turn of the Formula G drivers, a full ‘agility’ course is set out, combining those skills required for the Barrel Sprint with additional obstacles; making for a much tougher and more varied course.

Some of the bigger rear wheel drive cars tend to suffer a little, not that you would have known it from Luke Woodham’s performance…easing into the final with relative ease, only to meet Adam Elder in what turned out to be an adrenaline fueled final run…it was close, very close – but Luke took the win – a double for the weekend! A celebratory burnout from both really got the crowd going as tyre smoke covered Santa Pod…Standing about 15 feet from Adam Elder in his wide track Nissan, I was smothered in bits of rubber and smoke!

In the all wheel drive class, once again Viper Motorsport’s, Matt Miller continued his great form over the weekend having arrived for the first time this season, happy with the set up of his car – and it showed as he repeatedly pulled strong runs around the obstacles…a great way to finish the weekend!

Video’s from the Formula G event can be found here: RightSure Youtube

Needless to say, I personally had a wonderful weekend. Meeting lots of new drivers, teams and of course supporters. There really is a sense of family as you walk around, with mutual respect, friendly attitudes and an overwhelming show of support for everyone who was there….you can mingle amongst the drivers, say hello and they will always afford the time to show their gratitude and tell you all about their Motorsport experiences…so A massive thank you to everyone involved – Get down there and get involved!!

 

 

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