Weather forecasts of freezing air to sweep over the UK by the end of October could prove to be bad news for those local roads that have not be well-maintained believes the Road Surface Treatments Association (RSTA).

Weather forecasters WXCHARTS are predicting that Artic air from a north-westerly direction will sweep over the UK and see temperatures drop to freezing lows of 0C by the end of this month. Meanwhile, the Met Office has also predicted that north-western parts of the UK could see snow falling by the end October.

This is bad news for those highway authorities who have failed to properly maintain their road networks and for the motorists who use them as the freezing temperatures could result in more potholes.

Potholes are caused by water or snow freezing in cracks in the road surface. The expansion of ice results in damage and breaking up of the road surface which is made worse by repeated freeze-thaw cycles. The late start to the preventative maintenance season in some authorities due to Covid-19 led to smaller programmes being completed this year, with many unable to carry out all their planned, preventative maintenance. This is likely to lead to more expensive reactive patching over the winter.

“Cold icy weather has a detrimental impact upon roads resulting in more potholes where planned proactive maintenance has not been carried out, particularly where budget has meant smaller programmes than required by carriageway asset lifecycles over a number of years ” warned Paul Boss RSTA chief executive.

Boss called upon the government and local authorities to work together and invest the necessary funding to carry out planned programmes of road maintenance rather than expensive reactive pothole repair: “Patch-and-mend defies economic logic”, said Boss. “It costs only £3 to £5 per m2 to surface dress and maintain a road but costs on average over £50 per m2 to repair potholes. The expensive, emergency patch and mend repair of potholes is not a sensible use of highway budgets unlike the implementation of planned programmes of maintenance.”

 THE ACE IS GETTING SPOOKY....!!!!! 

Attention all of you vampires! All you werewolves! All the Harley-riding witches, undead boy racers and hot-rodding zombies! 

It's the Halloween All-American Cruise-In and Oldsmobile Special!

Join us on the 31st October from 4pm for a safe, socially-distanced spookfest and Rhythm 'n' Cruise record hop with our own demon of the decks, DJ Bill Guntrip in our outside gazebo! 

We'll also be cooking up a one-off menu with some really frightful specials....

And have some horrifically splendid prizes for those in the best costumes, including best dressed vehicles! 

We will be closing promptly at 9:45pm - so get down to the Ace in your best cape and fangs! 

At first sight gamers and bikers have almost nothing in common other than the odd video game title that channeled Sons of Anarchy, like the woefully bad Ride to Hell: Retribution, to the far more playable Grand Theft Auto IV: The Lost and Damned.  

Anyone who wants a true biking experience in the form of a game should check out Grand Theft Auto IV: The Lost and Damned

As is the case in the world of gaming, it is the thinking man’s rider who will always come out on top in the end.  

Gamers have to remain calm and collected at all times, just as the best riders in the world do on race day

Going Up a Level Before You Are Ready 

Newcomers to any pastime or hobby always fall into the same trap of wanting to run before they can walk or, in the case of wannabe riders, wanting to ride a Harley before they even know how to mount a 50cc scooter. 

The same occurs in gaming, with poker players often playing high stakes before they are ready, and battle royale players trying to enter expert gaming lobbies before they even know how all the buttons on their controller or keyboard work. 

When it comes to this issue, the plight of inexperienced gamers should act as a reminder to riders that nothing can replace experience, aside from a fully accredited training course. 

Knowing When to Take a Break 

Gaming can be an all-consuming affair, with many players only too happy to dedicate huge portions of their life to contest the games they love. 

However, there comes a time during a long gaming session that the body begins sending messages, telling the person in question that it is ready to head out for a breath of fresh air or let some steam off with a quick jog. 

More and more, gamers are beginning to heed the warnings of experts who say they should partake in things like yoga or meditation in order to relax their minds and bodies. 

The same applies to those men and women who spend long hours in the saddle. Road and engine vibrations, as well as temperature fluctuations take their toll, and when fatigue hits on a long road trip, it's always best to take a rest. 

Every rider, no matter how hardened they are, should take a note from a gamer’s book, and get themselves practicing their downwards dog position. 

 

Article supplied

 

The British Motor Museum is delighted to announce it has been awarded £707,000 as part of the Government’s £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund (CRF) to help face the challenges of the coronavirus pandemic and to ensure it has a sustainable future.

The British Motor Museum is one of 588 cultural and creative organisations across the country receiving urgently needed support – with £76 million of investment announced on Saturday. This follows £257 million awarded earlier in the week to 1,385 organisations, also from the Culture Recovery Fund grants programme being administered by Arts Council England on behalf of the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.

Stephen Laing, Head of Collections said "We are delighted that the Government has given the British Motor Museum a generous award from the Culture Recovery Fund. It will enable us to continue to look after our amazing collections, support the talented team of people that work at the Museum and plan for the future. It will also help us to keep welcoming visitors through the doors of the Museum in the coming months and to share our wonderful stories with them."

Culture Secretary, Oliver Dowden said “This is more vital funding to protect cultural gems across the country, save jobs and prepare the arts to bounce back. Through Arts Council England we are delivering the biggest ever investment in the arts in record time. Hundreds of millions of pounds are already making their way to thousands of organisations. These awards build on our commitment to be here for culture in every part of the country.”

Chair, Arts Council England, Sir Nicholas Serota, said “Culture is an essential part of life across the country, helping to support people’s wellbeing through creativity and self-expression, bringing communities together, and fuelling our world class creative industries. 

This latest set of awards from the Culture Recovery Fund builds on those announced recently and will help hundreds of organisations to survive the next few months, ensuring that the cultural sector can bounce back after the crisis.  We will continue doing everything we can to support artists and cultural and creative organisations, with further funding to be announced in the coming weeks.”

The British Motor Museum is currently open Friday to Monday but will be open daily throughout half term from 24 October – 1 November and will be running a fun range of family activities including the 'Where's Wally?' Spooky Museum Search and Rocket Science. To find out more about the British Motor Museum please visit the website at www.britishmotormuseum.co.uk 

Automotive charity, Ben, is now providing support to industry people who have lost their jobs and who are at risk of losing their jobs.