Gates 365605 Steering Return Hose-return Line Assembly on 2040-parts.com

Call for reform over road repair funding

FUNDING patterns mean most road maintenance is being carried out in "less-efficient, cold and wet" times, a report from a Government spending watchdog has said. The current pattern of funding, combined with the need to spend money within the financial year, means that most maintenance work goes on between September and March, said the report from the National Audit Office (NAO). It went on: "Although this is less disruptive for road users, it is less efficient than carrying out the work at other times of year because materials can be more difficult to handle in cold and wet conditions, and daylight hours are shorter." The report went on: "As a result of the additional funding for emergency repairs, which is made available at the end of the financial year, almost all highways authorities need extra capacity from the market at the same time, which makes it less likely that they will get value for money." The NAO report said there was a "lack of predictability" over road spending adding that historically, local highway authorities spent more revenue on maintenance, but were now carrying out fewer routine activities such as clearing gullies which are essential to preventing water seeping into roads' sub-structure.

Skoda Rapid (2012) first official pictures

Skoda has finally taken the wraps off the Rapid, its new compact saloon. The Rapid is destined to sit between the Fabia supermini and Octavia family hatch in the range, when it heads for UK showrooms in the autumn of 2012. Give me the details on the 2012 Skoda Rapid.

Mini plans to set new world record for largest one-make parade

Mini never shied away from setting records in the most dramatic way possible, and the company's next stunt hopes to set a new Guinness World Record for the largest parade of Minis. The rendezvous point for this record attempt will be the famous Mackinac Bridge in Michigan, where the official car count will take place. The organizers, Mini USA along with Mini of Grand Rapids, are hoping that at least 1,451 Minis will show up, to beat the previous record of 1,450.