Classic motor vehicle owners who purchase new and used parts online in order to keep their pride and joy roadworthy have now been hit with the further expense. Vintage car owners hoping to display their car to the public will now have to pay out the portly sum of two pounds if they wish to display their car at a Stafford car show.

For the past 5 years the Stafford car show has been a free event, but organizers now claim that a charge is necessary to cover the costs of running the event.

Michael Rutty, who owns a 1938 Austin Seven has expressed his dissatisfaction with these changes seeing it as a bit of a cheek to ask for money from the very people who bring the cars that are the main attraction:

 “Without us, there wouldn’t be a car show. We spend hundreds of pounds maintaining our cars, and now they are telling us we have to pay to display our cars.

 ”We don’t pay to get into other shows at all. It’s not the amount they are asking for – it is the principle. I understand a lot of local drivers are going to boycott it because of the charge.”

Despite such objections, Stafford Borough Council claim they have received 100 entries despite the charge and the show will not be cancelled.

The British aerospace and car parts company GKN is hoping to raise approximately £423m through a rights issue in order to secure the future financial security of the company. The engineering company recently celebrated it 250th anniversary and is hoping that by slashing jobs it can weather the economic storm.

Nearly 3000 workers have been made redundant and eight plant closures are already under way.

Sir Kevin Smith, chief executive of GKN expressed his thoughts on the strategy:

“The global recession has had a significant impact on both our business and credit market conditions,”

 “The rights issue that we have announced today will strengthen our capital structure and give us the flexibility to take advantage of new opportunities for development and growth.”

Despite a return to profit in March Sir Kevin Smith said the outlook for the rest of the year was uncertain.

In the US the car manufacturing sector has been the primary focus of government spending initiatives and bail outs, but experts warn that we should not overlook their suppliers.

While manufacturers like Chrysler and GM will be receiving tens of billions of dollars of aid it is claimed we should not ignore the fact that they, like more stable companies, such as Toyota (TM), Ford (F), and Honda (HMC), depend on the flourishing of their suppliers.

This is why car parts firms have similarly requested $10 billions from  the Administration to stave off future financial trouble.

Quite simply, as highlighted by Douglas A. McIntyre: “Cars that aren’t built can’t be sold” “A crippled parts industry means a crippled auto sector.”

Police officers in North Carolina may find themselves in dye need of spare car parts after a man fleeing arrest bashed into their two police cars.

The incident took place in the parking lot of the Food Lion on New Walkertown Road shortly before 9 p.m in Winston Salem.

Police were attempting to arrest the man on drug charges yesterday: “but as the detectives approached him, the man backed his car into one of the detective’s cars and crashed head-on into another as the man fled the parking lot.”

Fortunately police managed to catch up with the suspect when he crashed his vehicle near Old Rural Hall Road.

The man was charged with two counts of assault with a deadly weapon on a government official, speeding to elude arrest, careless and reckless driving, and possession with intent to sell and deliver cocaine

The BBC reported on a sharp drop in car production in the UK within the last month:

“The number of new cars made in the UK fell 43% in May from the same month a year earlier, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) said. However the drop, to 67,754 cars, was the smallest of the year.”

These statistic merely illustrate what many workers have experienced,as car factories have closed or at the very least scaled downed their production and workforce.

Paul Everitt, SMMT Chief Executive commentating on the business predicament said: “Businesses across the economy are still holding back on new expenditure and will need to see better access to finance and stronger domestic demand.”

In light of this downward plummet, the government has not been idle, and is hoping their cash for bangers scheme will up the demand for new vehicles and inject fresh life into the industry. With a fall of in new car purchases it is all the more important that car drivers continue to main high standards on older vehicles. Purchasing new and used car parts online is a quick and efficient way to maintain the upkeep of one’s vehicles.

Just as the British and Japanese Government have been adopting subsidy schemes to encourage consumers to invest in new auto-mobiles, the US government has offered another sale boosting initiative scheme. The program has been described as a simplified version of the ‘cash-for-clunkers’ program and works by offering $3,500 or $4,500 cash vouchers to new car buyers who are willing to scrap an old vehicle. In order to qualify the following conditions must be satisfied:

1. The car that is traded-in must have had it at least a year

2. The vehicle must be a road worthy drivable vehicle

3. Dealers must provide assurance the trade-in is scrapped.

The program was passed by the Senate Thursday in a bid to kick start the waning US manufacturing industry. The Introduction of the program which should be operational by early August has been met with varied response. An anticipated 10% sale increase is forecast, although CEO of consumer website sceptically claimed that even “250,000 new vehicle sales will not provide the impact needed”

A similar scheme has been in affect in the UK and has seen approximately 60,000 orders already placed. Alternatively, UK car owners who are still unable to invest in a new vehicle as part of the scrappage scheme, may find that buying new car parts will also benefit industry.

Drivers who are easily frustrated by their failing cars may find shopping online for new car pats the most stress free way to get their car back in tip top condition. Failing that (and failing all other options) you might just like to see your auto-mobile thrown into the sky and watch in delight as it returns to the earth to shatter in pieces.

This may sound a far far fetched fantasy for frustrated car owners around the world, but North American car owners are being given just such an opportunity. The car tosing event is taking place at the Saratoga Speedway, Vancouver. Disgruntled car owners will get the chance to watch two powerful self loading logging trucks:

“grab two cars (not from the parking lot so it’s safe to come) and toss them as far as they can then they will pick up what’s left of the cars and proceed to rip up as much they can, leaving the once proud family car in as many pieces as possible. Last year the winning toss was just over 90 feet and the vehicle used was torn into nearly 50 different pieces”

The third annual car tossing competition will be taking place this Saturday.