“They will offer cover where many would just give you a straight ‘no’, including heavily modified bikes and superbikes,” said Carl, “The staff there also know their motorbikes, which is important for many people who have specific requirements.”

Carl gamely agreed to answer some questions posed by Bikesure staff – you can see the resulting interview right here:

You can read more about Carl’s tie-up with Bikesure on the Bikesure Blog

The show itself is a feast of the best in performance automotive excellence, and this year we’ve landed a rallying star for our stand in the shape of this superbly-restored BMW M3, pictured here in action on the track.

The M3 was launched in 1987, and is the most successful touring race car ever built. This car, chassis number M3-120207, was sold new in 1991 to the famous CiBiEmme, official race team of BMW-Italia to be entered in the Italian Superturismo.
It was raced by BMW touring car legend Roberto Ravaglia and five-time Le Mans winner Emmanuale Pirro in 1991 and 1992.

In its first year Ravaglia won the championship, beating the 450bhp Alfa 75 IMSA, before being sold to a collector, ending up as a Group A hill climb racer in France in 1994 after being sold via famous classic car dealer Jean Jacques Bailly.
In 1998 and 1999 it won the French Hill Climb Touring Car Championship, and nearly a decade later in 2007 the M3 was meticulously restored back to its original 1991 livery when raced by Ravaglia, wearing Number 1.

The restoration revealed no crash damage, and today it stands in fantastic original condition.

The show runs today and all weekend at the NEC.

TyreSafe is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to raising awareness about the importance of correct tyre maintenance and the dangers of defective and worn tyres.
In 2009, TyreSafe was awarded with the Prince Michael International Road Safety Award in recognition of its achievements in raising awareness about the dangers associated with driving on defective and worn tyres.
TyreSafe supports the government’s ACT ON CO2 campaign which promotes Smarter Driving tips to help cut CO2 emissions from driving.
TyreSafe is a signatory to the European Road Safety Charter which aims to reduce road fatalities.
TyreSafe is a supporter of the UN Decade of Action for Road Safety which aims to make roads safer and save lives.

At Adrian Flux Insurance Services the presents in the Santa’s sack frequently have a motoring bias, as they are all car buffs. So what’s around that they may consider? Here are five of the most viewed items in a motorist’s Secret Santa trawl.

• The Auto Emergency Kit on Present Finder is an all-in-one tool designed to help out in the event of an accident. It combines a blade to cut through a seat belt, a pointed hammer to shatter windows, an air-bag spear, a bright LED torch, a red flashing warning light and a whistle to attract attention.

• For those interested in safety and becoming a better driver the book Roadcraft: The Police Driver’s Handbook:  is essential reading. Used by the police service to train their drivers, it aims to increase awareness of all factors that affect driving from characteristics of the vehicle to road and traffic conditions

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• If your partner is the sort who keeps losing car tickets, season tickets etc then the visor organisers on Extreme Auto Accessories could be just the thing. There are also visor CD organisers to sort out the jumble of CDs that accumulate on the shelf under the glove compartment.

• For the office joker the fake parking tickets over on Hawkins Bazaar could keep him amused, and his colleagues annoyed, in the New Year.

• Over at Nodding Toys there’s a great selection of these perennial favourites if your recipient would appreciate a silent canine friend for the journey.

Laying up your caravan for the winter is not just a simple case of parking it off the road and locking the door. A surprising amount of damage can occur from the weather and general wear and tear if it is not protected properly. Even if you are lucky enough to have indoor storage for your caravan it is still at risk from small animals, nesting insects and dust.

Here’s a brief checklist for over-wintering your caravan outdoors.

Image via Wikipedia

The interior – cleanliness is the key.

1)     Make sure it’s clean and don’t leave anything lying around that could attract animals or rot, causing unpleasant odours. Hoover thoroughly, shake out loose furnishings and clean out the fridge and cupboards.

2)     Drain off the water system. This is not only hygienic but will prevent burst pipes in the event of freezing weather.

3)     If you’re worried about condensation invest in a couple of moisture traps and replenish with new crystals as required. These can be purchased from most caravan stores.

4)     Check window seals and doors for leaks. Now is the time for those little repair jobs.

The exterior – it’s a case of vigilance.

1)     Make sure snow doesn’t build up under the caravan. This can cause problems with external cables.

2)     Check the tyres. If the van is not moved for months they can develop flat spots. Either move the van regularly or consider removing the wheels and jacking the caravan up. But, check with your insurance company before removing the wheels – some policies insist on wheel clamps for security.

3)     Don’t get stuck. Handbrakes and other moving parts can tend to cease up if they are not used. It is advisable to check these regularly.

Make a wish list – be the first with the new season’s gadgets.

1)     Take advantage of the long winter nights to browse catalogues and online sites for new gadgets and must have items so you can impress your fellow caravanners when you set off on the road again in the Spring.

For more detailed advice visit caravan specialist sites such as UK Campsite Direct, Caravanning 4 You and Go Caravanning,  where there are members forums and first hand tips on the subject.

In addition to your reflective warning triangle, jump-leads and first-aid kit there are other essentials you need to in order to be ready for whatever winter has to throw at you.
Specialist insurance broker Adrian Flux has compiled a list of 10 things you won’t want to be without if you find yourself stuck in a snow-bound jam.

10 things to keep in your car during the winter months:

1. If the temperature has plummeted, don’t leave home without checking your mobile phone is fully charged. Don’t, however, rely on your phone as your only line of defence – Murphy’s Law dictates that if you’re going to break down, you’re more likely to break down in a signal black-spot. If your phone has a camera, you can also use it to record any unfortunate accidents that might take place.
2. A torch is essential. Swerve any potential battery nightmares by carrying a wind-up torch which requires only a few hand cranks to power-up. Many torches designed for use by motorists are also clever multi-taskers that include alert sirens, glass-breaking hammer tops and seatbelt cutters.
3. There’s nothing worse than standing in the cold scraping ice off your windscreen with a credit card or a CD case. Take an ice-scraper.
4. A blanket or a sleeping bag will make any enforced stay in your car during the winter months far more bearable. If you’re really organised, pick up a heat-reflective blanket – they take up very little space and help you to retain up to 90 per cent of your radiant body heat.
5. If you have to drive in bad weather, make sure you take emergency supplies of high-calorie snacks, such as cereal bars, and bottles of water. Don’t be tempted to leave a large bottle of water in the boot for emergencies – it will undoubtedly freeze solid. Take fresh water for each journey.
6. Take a folding shovel to help you dig your car out of trouble. If you’ve got any left-over pieces of carpet, store them in the car boot and use them for a little extra traction under your tyres. A bag of road grit or even cat litter can also be a lifesaver.
7. In addition to your blanket, try and take a change of clothes, Wellington boots, thick socks, a hat and gloves. Make sure you have enough supplies for you and each of your passengers.
8. Take a tow-rope. Again, an all-year-round essential, but when it’s below freezing, the ability to get moving quickly isn’t one you’ll want to miss.
9. In addition to a well-stocked first aid kit, if you’re setting off in bad weather, make sure you have enough of any medication you need to last you for at least 10 hours.
10. A notebook and a pen are handy – you can write a note to leave on the dashboard if you have to abandon your car or make a start on your novel if you find yourself stranded for 15 hours.

Audi TT facts:

• The TT was first shown as a concept car at the 1995 Frankfurt Motor Show
• The car takes its name from the successful motor racing tradition of NSU in the British Isle of Man TT (Tourist Trophy) motorcycle race
• The TT name has also been attributed to the phrase “Technology & Tradition”

BMW factfile:

• Bob Marley once said that BMW stood for Bob Marley and the Wailers.
• It actually stands for Bayerische Motoren Werke (in English: Bavarian Motor Works)
• The BMW badge takes its colours from the Bavarian flag.
• BMW made motorcycles before car production began in 1928
• The first car was an Austin Seven built under licence
• BMW lost its Eisenach car plant to the Russian sector. Its Munich plant was heavily damaged (with all worthwhile machinery taken as war reparation).
• The company survived making pots and pans, spades and bicycles
• The 3-series was launched in 1975

Austin Allegro 1750SS

It would be unfair to call the Austin Allegro an ugly duckling. Unfair on the duckling, that is, which at least grew into a beautiful swan.
The Allegro was destined to remain the dumpy successor to the pretty, Issigonis-designed Austin 1100/1300 throughout its decade of production.
But though it has been voted the worst and ugliest car ever made, among other insults, and Jeremy Clarkson once famously destroyed one for a laugh, its appalling styling is what gives it its charm, like those somehow ugly-but-cute cats and dogs.
Dubbed the “Flying pig” and “All-aggro” because of its many problems, it was said to be more aerodynamic when driven backwards than forwards, and often came in questionable shades of mustard and beige.
The 1750SS was the sport model in production from 1973 to 1974, and sported a vinyl roof (why was that ever considered “sporty”?), as well as the idiosyncratic quartic (vaguely square) steering wheel.
Despite its problems, the Allegro was the fifth best selling car in the country in 1979, and a total of 642,350 Allegros were manufactured.
Of the SS, just one remains…

Hyundai Stellar 1600L

Ah, the Hyundai Stellar, beloved of taxi drivers everywhere and consequently run into the ground and sent to the scrapheap – though a solitary 1600L survives, somewhere…
This boxy saloon was built on the chassis of the mark V Ford Cortina, and was marketed to would-be Cortina buyers unhappy with the jelly-mould new Sierra.
It was designed by Giorgetto Giugaro, who must have had an off-day and saved his energy for the Saab 9000 and Fiat Uno.
The rear wheel drive Stellar was cheap and reliable with a big boot, and thus attracted the attention of those taxi drivers, who proceeded to rack up the miles and make this workhorse such a rarity today, despite production ending relatively recently in 1992.
But there is another reason it’s so seldom seen today – many Stellars ended up on the banger racing circuit. So if it wasn’t run into the ground around the nation’s cities, it probably ended up a mangled wreck.

Hillman Avenger 1300GT

The Avenger had something of an identity crisis in its 11-year production run, from 1970 to 1981, thanks to its parent company’s ever-changing ownership.
Starting life badged as a Hillman under the Rootes ownership, it became a Chrysler in 1976 before changing to Talbot when Peugeot took over the bankrupt Chrysler Europe.
In the US, it was the Plymouth Cricket, a Sunbeam in Europe and a Dodge in South Africa and South America.
So it’s fair to say that this car was something of a survivor in its heyday, but it’s seldom seen today.
One of the more interesting models was the 1300GT – interesting because not too many were made, it featured twin carburbettors, fantastic go-faster stripes and dustbin lid wheel trims.
So we’d love to know where the one surviving example of this rare beast resides.

Vauxhall Viva 1800L

The Viva name survived three models and 16 years between 1963 and 1979 before it was finally put out to grass at the expense of the Astra.
It was a spectacularly successful motor, selling more than 1.5million units for Vauxhall as the company took its first steps into the small car market since 1936 (though was the 2.3L SL really a small car?).
By the standards of the day, this was a good looking car with heavy American styling cues, particularly the sporty Firenza Coupe, brought out to compete with the Ford Capri.
The letterbox-style speedometer and pronounced bonnet and front bumper humps were nods to the cars American heritage.
The third generation of Viva, the HC, was the UK’s fastest-selling model of all time, and the millionth was driven off the production line by Tory MP John Eden in 1971.
Given the sheer number of these cars produced, we are slightly dubious that just a solitary 1800L survives. But if it does, we hope it’s being well looked after…

Skoda Estelle 105L

Remember the days when everyone knew a Skoda joke? Like how do you double the value of a Skoda? Fill the tank. And what do you call a Skoda with a sun roof? A skip.
The Estelle was the main reason for the jibes, despite consistent class wins in the RAC rallies of the 70s and 80s. Questionable quality control, head gasket and overheating problems were the main reasons for the negative image, but surely nearly 2million owners in the Czech Republic alone couldn’t be wrong…
The Estelle was not an attractive car, but boy was it cheap…leading to more than 120,000 sales in the UK between 1977 and 1990.
A rugged and generally reliable runabout, the Estelle gained a cult following among owners.
But they are becoming an increasingly rare sight on our roads today because their resale value was so low that scrappage and sale back to the Czech Republic became better options for many than the UK secondhand car market.
As a result, prices for good examples today are rising. The proud owner of the one remaining Estelle 105L may well be sitting on a tidy sum…