Weird World of Wheels: September 29 2006
29 September 2006 Each week, we'll be bringing you the essential strangest motoring news from around the world. Don't forget to come back every Friday for your new helping. Got any stories you think we should feature in the Weird World of Wheels? Send them to us at editorial@autotrader.co.uk. This week: Good dog key Keys, bag, mobile, dog. All the things Juliette Piesley has to take with her when she pops out in her car. The trouble started when Ms Piesley's dog George swallowed the immobiliser chip after it fell out of her keyfob while she was changing the battery. A warning light came on, the car failed to start, and the AA were called. Patrolman Kevin Gorman suggested George may have wolfed down the chip, and placed him in the passenger seat. One turn of the key later the chip in the hungry Hungarian Vizsla's stomach allowed the engine to start. Now the 39-year-old swimming instructor and her partner have to put George in the passenger seat if they want to travel anywhere. Or follow him around with a plastic bag and a fork.
Bondi beached Bondi beach has a vandalism problem. But it's not marauding gangs of youngsters who are causing the problem, it's camper van driving pensioners. Motorists are allowed to park their cars at the beach for a couple of hours at a time, but groups of elderly sunseeking motorists have found a novel way of getting round parking laws. They chop down the parking signs. It takes local officials up to two weeks to put up new signs, and by that time the silver surfin' sunseekers have moved on.
Most of us will trade in our cars after a few thousand miles, or after the wheels start falling off. Whichever comes first. US motorist Ivy Gordon has taken automotive longevity to a new level. His Volvo P1800 has 2.5 million miles on the clock. The retired New York teacher's motor has only been in for servicing once, after 675,000 miles, and has never failed to start. Video of the week – FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT
What with all this high-speed internet malarkey finally taking off, this week I thought I'd include a broadband brawl. And what a brawl. Earlier this week drivers Michael Simko and Don St. Denis came to blows at the Toledo Speedway in the US after St. Denis caused Simko's car to run into a wall, forcing him out of the race. The cars came to a standstill, Simko jumped out of his car, and… ding, ding… round one. It's got everything - racing, fighting, windscreen smashing high-kicks, helmet hurling, and more. Click on the play button below to see the action for yourself.
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