Mazda Millenia Cruise Control Module, P/n Tb96-66-320 on 2040-parts.com

The Hamster wrecks his Morgan!

Richard Hammond has wrecked his Morgan Aeromax in a prang in Gloucestershire The Hamster was apparently on his way back from a flying lesson (look out for the Hamster and Captain Slow in flying washing machines in the next series of Top Gear, then) when a car braked sharply at a roundabout at Over, in Gloucestershire. The resulting four car shunt – with the Hamster at the back – ended up with much swapping of details, but no injuries. And Hammond came off least worse being at the back.

Bentley Mulsanne Turbo: 30 years ago this week, Bentley was re-born

1982 Bentley Mulsanne Turbo (photo courtesy WO Bentley Memorial Foundation) The Bentley Mulsanne Turbo was launched thirty years ago this week at the 1982 Geneva Motor Show, and Bentley was re-born. It’s hard to believe now, but until Rolls Royce launched the Bentley Mulsanne Turbo in 1982 Bentleys were nothing more than re-badged Rolls Royces and accounted for an insignificant 5 per cent of Rolls Royce sales. But the Bentley Mulsanne Turbo changed all that and put Bentley on the road to success with the first ’Blower’ Bentley in half a century.

Autoweek contributor Patrick Paternie dead at age 65

Longtime Autoweek contributor Patrick C. Paternie, who shared his love of cars with readers for 12 years at this publication and for 25 years with other magazines and in his many books, died on March 10 at age 65. Paternie had just finished a race in his Porsche 911 at Willow Springs and pulled into his pit area when he suffered a heart attack.