KEY POINTS:
British auction house Bonhams sold $16.4 million worth of vehicles at last week's Goodwood Festival of Speed. It was the best auction result in the event's 15-year history and was topped by the sale of a 1932 Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 Spiderfor $3.6 million. Other notable sales included
a 1904 Panhard-Levassor two-seater for $1.16 million; 1959 Lister-Jaguar Costin two-seater for $1 million; 1964 AC Cobra Mark II for $597,000; and a 1928 Bentley 6-litre Tourer for $582,000.
Company books open
Ford has reportedly hired accountant group KPMG to examine the books at Jaguar and Land Rover ahead of their expected sale later this year. This month, Ford said it was working on the best options for Jaguar and Land Rover as it continues a strategic review of its global operations. US analysts say flogging them off would help debt-laden Ford immeasurably.
Saving fuel and face
The Government will soon add diesel cars to its fleet in an effort to save fuel. This has merit. Its proposed ban on pictures of MPs catching 40 winks in the debating chamber doesn't. It should remember Sir Winston Churchill's advice for MPs: "Never take oneself too seriously." Churchill called it his Rule 4. Asked what his other MP rules were, he said: "There are no other rules."
Scams crash
Car hire companies in Britain say they are winning the fight against bogus accidents. The staged accidents are costing the insurance industry millions of dollars each year as fraudsters deliberately cause an accident with an innocent driver or an accomplice in another car, in order to make an inflated or false insurance claim. The driver and passenger in a rented Ferrari claimed $260,000 in damages after being rear-ended by a Mercedes-Benz. Turned out the drivers were brothers - living at the same address. They had pulled the same scam four months earlier.
We are the world
The Vatican has issued a set of Ten Commandments for drivers :
1. You shall not kill.
2. The road shall be for you a means of communion between people and not of mortal harm.
3. Courtesy, uprightness and prudence will help you deal with unforeseen events.
4. Be charitable and help your neighbour in need, especially victims of accidents.
5. Cars shall not be an expression of power and domination, and an occasion of sin.
6. Charitably convince the young and not so young not to drive when they are not in a fit condition to do so.
7. Support the families of accident victims.
8. Bring guilty motorists and their victims together, at the appropriate time, so they can undergo the liberating experience of forgiveness.
9. On the road, protect the more vulnerable party.
10. Feel responsible toward others.