The Weird World of Wheels
03 August 2007 Diff'rent strikes If you’re a celebrity convicted of disturbing the peace, the last thing you want to do is cause a fuss. Try telling that to Gary Coleman, the diminutive star of 80s US sitcom Different Strokes, who’s been charged with disorderly conduct this week after allegedly rowing with a woman in a car park in Utah. A police spokesperson said: “Mr Coleman was very excited and loud... At one point he exited his vehicle, waving his arms, yelling and screaming. Vehicles were unable to exit the parking lot because of Mr Coleman’s actions.” If convicted, the 39-year-old former child star faces three months in jail and a £350 fine. In 1998 Coleman, who also starred as a security guard in The Simpsons, was charged with assault after punching a woman in a shopping mall.
There are a few people you wouldn’t expect to see on your driver education course. Bambi, Winnie the Pooh… and a three-time Formula One champion. Nelson Piquet began just such a course in his native Brazil this week, after having his licence revoked for committing a number of speeding and parking offences. The 54-year-old, F1 champion in 1981, 1983 and 1987, said: “I think we have to pay for our mistakes. It's not even just a speeding problem. I got tickets for all kinds of reasons, for things like parking where I shouldn't." His wife Viviane has also been ordered to take part in the mandatory driver awareness course, after having her licence taken away for bad driving. The couple have to attend 30 hours of classes and pass an exam to get their licences back.
We don’t condone traffic warden-dodging - but sometimes it might be nice if there was some sort of warning system to let us know when the hard-working council officials are about. A 1,000-watt air raid siren should do it. Tired of wardens ticketing shoppers’ cars in his area, shopkeeper Martin Herdman has come up with a novel solution. Each time a warden is spotted the 50-year-old plays the sound of a WW2-style air raid siren through a huge speaker outside his shop. Mr Herdman, a part-time actor who has also starred in The Bill and Max and Paddy’s Road to Nowhere, said: “It does work - it lets everyone know and then it's up to them if they get a fine or not." Weird Pic of the Week: Who you gonna call?
Thanks to Pete Ettrich for sending in this photo of some creative van signage. Got any pictures you think we should feature in the Weird World of Wheels? Send them to us at editorial@autotrader.co.uk. Video: The cutting crew Japanese TV is an endless source of car-related fun, as we found out in this edition of the Weird World of Wheels. So what fun can you have with a car, a kitchen knife and a cucumber? Click the play button below to find out. 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. Missed a previous edition of Weird World of Wheels? Take a look through the archive now. July 13th 2007 |
Nelson ban fella
War-den
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