AA Patrol Blog

Yes it’s that time of year again!!  Dark nights, freezing fog, six feet of snow and mayhem on the roads!!  But don’t panic – expert help is at hand!!

These are my top winter driving tips:-

• Be sure to complete all of your regular vehicle checks paying special attention to lights and electrics, antifreeze mix, screen wash mix and tyres.
• Make sure your vehicle is thoroughly clean especially the windows and mirrors.
• Keep a full tank of fuel – don’t get caught short in a jam!!
• Plan your journey well by getting a route from AA Route Planner and checking local radio or teletext for any problems on the roads.
• Make sure your mobile phone is fully charged.
• Carry extra warm clothes in your vehicle and a hot flask!!!!

Don’t forget to check out my Winter Driving Podcast too http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/podcasts.html !!!  Why not download it to your ipod and carry it with you in case of emergencies!!!!

Don’t forget to check the local weather too  http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/ and if your journey isn’t essential stay at home but if it is take extra care and allow extra time.

Be safe

Nick

Last Saturday was the big day and the AA Historical Team was out in force to welcome the new Lord Mayor of London Alderman David Lewis http://www.lordmayorsshow.org/ .  With an early start the historical convoy made its way to Smithfield Market in Central London to fine tune the vehicles before their moment of glory and get Patrolman Pete in party mood too!!!!

After the RAF fly over at 11 am the vehicles set off, the running order being:-

• 1992    Harley Davidson
• 1961    BSA with Side car
• 1994    Honda Pan European
• 1963    Minivan
• 1983    Morris Ital van
• 1979    Ford Escort van
• 1993    Vauxhall Brava
• 1999    Land Rover

Not forgetting one of our brand new Vauxhall Vivaro’s – just in case one of us broke down and needed a tow!!!!

Patrolman Pete lead our procession (and what a brilliant job he did!!!), kids and adults were loving it, shouting, cheering and generally having loads of fun!!  It’s a fantastic experience to be part of the show but by the looks of the crowd I think they had the best time of all.

If you couldn’t make it this year be sure to make it next November.

Remember to keep checking this blog for future Historical Team news!!

Fantastic News!!!!  The Grand Total raised by the AA Historic Team’s charity Route 66 Challenge was over £11,500  going to Cancer Research UK!!!  What a brilliant achievement – well done to all involved!!

Nick

Last Monday I had the opportunity to spend a morning with Pete Carroll and Andy Toft from my local evening paper The Express and Star, and what a morning it was!!!!  The journalists wanted to experience a day in the life of an AA patrol for the motoring section of the paper, but little did I know that they wanted some video footage of the events too!!!  They attended four breakdown jobs with me, all of which we managed to fix and then we shot off back to their head office for some interviewing! 

The report came out in Tuesday’s edition – before I’d even seen it I was receiving calls and messages from family and friends!!  I think they were impressed with the huge middle page spread and the fact that the video got pride of place on the Express and Star website!!!!  I had an absolutely fantastic day and hope to get the chance to work with Pete and Andy again in the future.

Check out the video at http://www.expressandstar.com/2007/10/16/a-day-with-the-aa/ You won’t regret it!!!!

Each year the AA historic team spends the weekend at the Beaulieu Motor Museum in the New Forest for the Annual Auto Jumble http://www.beaulieu.co.uk/motormuseum/introduction.cfm , which is the largest in Europe.  We always take as many of the old vehicles as possible and this attracts a huge amount of interest from the 40,000 motor enthusiasts who attend each year.

Every year we also have a team task to achieve and this year’s challenge was a bit unusual.  Pete, one of my colleagues from the London area looks after an ex-patrol 1972 Triumph Tiger Motorcycle which was recently the victim of an attempted theft from his garage.  Luckily Pete’s security measures prevented the theft, however, the disgruntled thieves decided to set fire to the bike instead.

Our challenge at Beaulieu was to restore the machine to its former glory over the weekend.  Pete had managed to obtain most of the replacement parts required but unfortunately a couple of suppliers let us down, therefore we were unable to add the finishing touches we would have liked.  Never mind, we had the engine running by Sunday and 95% of all the work completed.

It will be an absolute pleasure to watch Pete ride the bike at The Lord Mayor’s Show in London in November this year http://www.lordmayorsshow.org/ .  His hard work, determination and the support of his colleagues has resulted in a piece of AA nostalgia continuing to provoke fond memories amongst both AA staff and the general public. Hopefully the bike will be 100% ready in time!!