Extreme Wheelchair

Boffins at Germany's Fraunhofer Institute and Otto Bock GmbH have come up with a fantastic new way for the physically disabled to get about. Combining the functions of a wheelchair and a quadbike might sound mad, but for many disabled people it could offer the chance to leave the pavement behind, and go where they please without having to rely on assistance from a carer.

Christened the Superfourin by its inventors, the wheelchair-cum-ATV can climb gradients of 40%, or 1 in 2.5, without a problem and is able to traverse snow, mud, sand and rocky terrain. But they didn't stop there. The nifty device is also fitted with an array of electronic wizardry, including pulse and blood pressure monitors and a GPS system. What's more, if the driver gets stuck, is involved in an accident or suffers a medical problem, the vehicle automatically calls for assistance.

"This technology offers wheelchair users a level of freedom previously unavailable. Our test driver, a multiple sclerosis patient who has been wheelchair-bound for many years, was enthused. For the first time in a long time, he was able to visit the Thüringer Forest with his family without having to rely on outside help."
Professor Jürgen Wernstedt, Fraunhofer Institute.

More info here: http://www.fraunhofer.de/fhg/EN/press/pi/2006/04/4-2006_Topic1.jsp
and here (German site)

Let's hope it takes off - we'd love to put one of these on cover.

Adrian Flux was one of the first companies to offer good-value insurance for disabled drivers, way back in the 1970s and is also one of the few companies that cater for ATVs and quads through our special QuadSure division. You can get a quick quad quote by calling 0800 089 2000.

French Car

The French Car Show is a great day out for all the family, and this year's event, sponsored by Adrian Flux is being held at Bruntingthorpe Proving Ground on Sunday 28th May. The organisers are expecting at least 10,000 visitors and 2500 club and demo cars are expected to attend.

The show attracts a massive variety of great vehicles, standard, performance, supercar and modified. The cars maybe the stars, but there's all sorts of other activities, too, including a 2.1 mile circuit, 0-60 sprint track, a Pro-kart circuit , live skills tests and demos, 2 arenas, a rolling road and much more.

There's also live entertainment, motorsport teams and personalities, over 30 clubs and 60 traders, plus fairground rides and more.

For tickets and information see www.frenchcarshow.co.uk or call the booking hotline on 0845 838 0824. If you book now you can save 20% on the gate price, and whether you have a passion for Peugeots, shout about Citroens, rave about Renaults or if you're just a regular car fanatic, this is truly an event you can't afford to miss.

Had a crash? Don't worry your car will call for help - Britain - Times Online

Had a crash? Don't worry your car will call for help - Times Online

ROAD deaths could fall by 2,500 a year across the European Union under plans to equip all new cars with a device that calls the emergency services after a crash

Man crashes 33 cars in 23 years

Some people have all the luck, or so they say, and it seems that may apply to bad luck too! This story from Ananova seems to prove the point.

A postman has finally learnt how to ride a bicycle after crashing 33 cars in 23 years.

Croatian Franjo Pozgaj, 39, crashed his first car at the age of 16 and has wrecked at least one a year since.

The postie from Pokupska Luka in central Croatia said: "The first car I crashed was my father's Audi when I was 16 and I once totally wrote off a new Renault just 20 minutes after I had bought it. I just seem to have bad luck with cars."

Pozgaj, who claims he has never suffered more than a few bruises from any of his crashes, has finally decided to hang up his car keys for a while and will try his luck with a bicycle instead.

If you've had more than your fair share of bad luck, when it comes to car accidents, you might find some insurers shy away from providing cover. At Adrian Flux, we take a more philosophical approach and will always do our best to find a reasonably priced policy, whatever your past history. You can call 08000 838 833 for a quote. Or click here.

In Flux Magazine

Adrian Flux has produced a new house magazine with a difference.

In Flux, produced in collaboration with the gang at Intersection, looks a million miles away from the standard corporate fare people expect from an insurance company.

The mag is packed full of incredible stories, features and interviews and covers topics as diverse as the European Gumball Rally, popemobiles, and a guy in Bangladesh who builds knock-off Ferraris! There's also photography so exquisite it will make your eyes bleed. No, really!

The 62-page mag is published twice a year, and is exclusively available to Adrian Flux customers. But just so everyone else knows what they're missing, you can follow the link below to see a small sample, featuring an airless tyre that will never go flat and Pimp My Ride - Adrian Flux is the official insurer to Pimp My Ride UK.


Download your In Flux sample here (2.5MB pdf).

WHAM! More Careless Driver than Careless Whisper

George Michael is in a spot of bother after apparently managing to prang 3 park cars with his Range Rover Vogue in London. The singer may face considerable problems, as it seems that he failed to report the bizarre accident on Sunday morning.

Says the Mirror:

Witnesses who rushed from their houses yesterday morning after hearing a loud crash discovered the dishevelled ex-Wham singer sitting in his Range Rover staring at a dented grey Ford Fiesta.

He then started to drive away but hit the rear of a SECOND parked car, a white Peugeot 406. The impact sent the Peugeot shunting foward into the front of the THIRD stationary motor, a green Rover 218 that had been parked a few feet away.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/

The maximum penalty for failing to report a prang is up to 6 months in jail, so George risked more than just his no-claims discount by driving away from the scene.

If you've lost your no claims discount Adrian Flux may be able to get you a cheaper quote. We also offer competitive quotes for drivers with motoring convictions or bans (and we have great prices for those who have full NCB and no convictions as well for that matter).

Why not give us a call on 08000 838 833 or visit www.adrianflux.co.uk to find out how much you could save.

And you think finding insurance for your car is difficult!

Flux solves the Street Sleeper insurance nightmare

Insuring your car or bike can be a pain at the best of times. So how hard is it to insure a motorised sofa? Luckily that's not a question most of us will ever need to ask, but one person who did is Edd China, proprietor of Cummfy Banana, a manufacturer of 'unusual' vehicles. It was lucky for him, that he asked Adrian Flux, as we were able to say 'it's easy'!

Cummfy Banana's famous creations include the 'Casual Lofa', the world's fastest sofa with a top speed of 87mph, the four poster bed 'Street Sleeper' (with a claimed 0-60 of '40 winks'), and the 'Bog Standard', a Victorian bathroom built on a motorbike and sidecar combination. They may look a little odd but most of them are 'street legal' and perfectly safe (in the right hands).

But that didn't convince the insurers that Edd first approached.

"Getting insurance was a complete nightmare," he says. "Our original insurance company suddenly decided to withdraw our cover after seven years, for no apparent reason and only giving us a week's notice. We rang round loads of insurers but it was Flux that came up with the goods."

Apart from a couple of curios and race-only machines, all the vehicles needed comprehensive insurance cover including both private hire and public liability.

Adrian Flux is one of the leading names in insurance for modified, kit and custom cars and motorbikes and can offer cover for almost any combination of driver and vehicle. We are able to offer agreed valuation cover and like-for-like replacement of modifications or custom parts, so vehicles are insured for what they are really worth.

So next time you have problems insuring the vehicle of your dreams, give us a call on 08000 838 833 or visit www.adrianflux.co.uk.

Welcome

Welcome to the brand new blog from Adrian Flux. We're hoping that this will prove to be an exciting and relevant way of interacting with you, our customers.

We will bring you:

• Answers to the common questions people have about insurance.
  
• Stories and feedback from our clients.
  
• Details of the great deals and savings available to our customers.
  
• Coverage of car shows and events.
  
• Useful links to sites we think you'll like.
  
• Comment and views on issues of interest to motorists and bikers, caravan and homeowners.
  
• All the latest news and analysis covering all kinds of insurance, including car insurance, bike insurance, van insurance, caravan insurance, motorhome insurance, home insurance, travel insurance.
  
• Anything else that takes our fancy.

If you have any questions, feedback or comments about this blog, or Adrian Flux in general, please feel free to post - I'll read them all.

Best Wishes & Happy Easter,

David Wilson