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The Weird World of Wheels: Big screen edition
23 March 2007 Don't forget to come back every Friday for your new helping. Got any stories, pictures or videos you think we should feature in the Weird World of Wheels? Send them to us at editorial@autotrader.co.uk. This week: Lost - part 1 Satnav-less Belgian lorry driver Patrick van Houdt got lost on his way to an iron foundry in Cornwall. Using a hand drawn map given to him by a garage worker, Mr van Houdt first drove over a mini-roundabout, ripping up two trees and demolishing a wall. For the main act the 45-year-old drove into a cul-de-sac and smashed into a Volkswagen Polo belonging to the mother of England rugby star Ollie Barkley. The hapless Belgian panicked, hitting the accelerator instead of the brake (this is a professional driver), and careered down the residential street at 40mph, hitting a Peugeot 306, Nissan Micra, Renault Laguna, a Vauxhall estate and a Mazda RX8 – causing £50,000 of damage. After seeing the devastation caused by his driving one female resident shouted: "If I had a gun, I'd shoot you." Mr van Houdt replied: "Lady, if I had a gun, I'd shoot myself."
Lost - part 2 Some coach drivers should have paid more attention in history and geography classes. Particularly the coach driver who took a party of schoolchildren to Hampton Court this week. The driver punched the name of his destination into his satnav, and set off from the school in Fareham in Hampshire. Three and a half hours later they arrived at Hampton Court. Hampton Court - the side street in Islington, London, 22 miles away from their intended destination in Richmond-Upon-Thames. Realising their mistake, the group turned around and attempted to drive back through the Capital's streets. They became so lost a teacher stopped the bus, got off, bought a map and gave it to the driver. Apparently even this failed to solve the problem, and a call was put in to the children's school, who looked up the route home on the internet.
Nine motorists in the Lincoln area have been conned by a devious new trick. The scam involves Eastern European gangs, who pretend to be families (do you think two of them pretend to be children?) and wave down passing motorists claiming they have run out of fuel - and offer them 'gold' rings in return for £20 to buy petrol. Upon visiting jewellers, the good Samaritans are dismayed to find out the rings are made of brass. Jeweller Adam Brown said: "We are seeing about 15 brass rings a week." Valet of the dulls There are types of cars parking valets dread. Any car containing a dog or a cougar, or one fitted with specially adapted controls. Amputee Harold Towne dropped off his car at a hospital in Alabama and gave the keys to the car park attendant. Unfortunately the valet mistook the specially made acceleration pedal for the brake, and sent the car hurtling through the emergency room's plate glass windows and onto Mr Towne's wheelchair. Probably the only man in history to be hit by a car after checking into a hospital, Mr Towne was treated for his injuries and released shortly after. Weird pic of the week: What would Scooby Doo?
Step 1: paint your wagon like the Mystery Machine from Scooby Doo. Step 2: park it outside Auto Trader's offices. Step 3: get a free link to editorial@autotrader.co.uk. Video: The wedding present Can’t afford a wedding gift? Simply smoke you tyres into a smouldering pile outside the church. Just don’t do it when a police car is directly behind you. Click the play buttonbelow to see the video for yourself (and take some motion sickness pills for the first part). Missed a previous edition of Weird World of Wheels? Take a look through the archive now. Got any stories, pictures or videos you think we should feature in the Weird World of Wheels? Send them to us at editorial@autotrader.co.uk.
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One ring to con them
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