Monday, January 30, 2012

 

American woman set to battle the boys in Nascar

There’s to be no fooling around when the female racing sensation Courtney Force takes to the track in a Funny Car this year.

As the daughter of Nascar superstar John Force, Courtney has grown up with little else on her mind but breaking the mould as a professional racer.

As if the inspiration of achieving a podium place wasn’t enough, Force has also had to put up with the derogatory attitude of her fellow racers, most of whom are male.

Ms Force said, “Now I get my own 8,000hp, 300mph Ford, I can’t wait to start beating up on the boys.”

The first opportunity to step out of her dad’s shadow will come at the Kragen O’Reilly Winternationals in California, on the 9th of February.

This prestigious race has previously been won by Force’s teammate Robert Hight and Jason Line.

John Force said, “She’s kind of an extrovert, ready to attack and go after the boys, knowing they were going to beat her up. She’s ready.”

Ladies car insurance policyholders will be keeping their fingers crossed that Courtney Force and Formula One hopeful Danica Patrick will finally dispel the myth that women can’t reach the racing heights.

Photo © cole24 via Flickr, under Creative Commons Licence

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Friday, January 27, 2012

 

Titanic car to go on show

The Titanic movie was once vehemently attacked by film critic Mark Kermode for appealing solely pandering to the emotions of teenage girls. It is highly doubtful whether the self-proclaimed ‘doctor of film’ will get so worked up about the interest garnered by the exhibition of the Titanic ‘Ghost’.

This magnificent vehicle was built for the Harland and Wolf Chairman Lord Pirrie 101 years ago. It has a charm and elegance which has drawn oohs and aahs from men and women of various ages and tastes.

It is bound to be the greatest attraction at the County Down Vintage Car Show, which is also set to feature the exhibition of a Derby Bentley and grand old Morris Minor.

One of the event organisers said, “This car has a unique link to a special time and place in our history and we are thrilled to be able to bring it back to Northern Ireland in this year when so much attention will be focussed on the Titanic.

“I'm sure visitors to the show will find themselves transported back in time by the experience. You can just imagine Lord Pirrie driving to the shipyard in this Rolls Royce to check on the progress of the great ship.”

It is only hoped that the present owners of this valuable collector’s item have guarded against fate by investing in comprehensive car insurance.

Photo © meikel_nai via Flickr, under Creative Commons Licence

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Monday, January 23, 2012

 

Live updates from Google Maps

Google Maps is quite useful when it comes to estimating journey times, miles, and petrol costs, but if you’re giving your car a rest, don’t fancy walking, and think there might be train delays, what do you do?

Well Google has teamed up with thetrainline.com and released a new route planner which has live updates and information about 170,000 rail timetables, 2,500 rail stations, 8,000 bus stop timetables, and 250 London Underground stations.

It works the same way as before, but now there’s a lot more information so planning a journey is easier and you’re less likely to be late to your destination.

The release of this improved route planner has been timed to coincide with the impending arrival of visitors for the London Olympics.

The chairman of VisitBritain stated, "We want to encourage visitors to explore the whole of Britain. With the Olympics less than 200 days away Google's initiative is exciting news.

“Millions of visitors plan their itinerary using Google Maps and this additional information will act as a catalyst and inspire them to discover all that is wonderful about our great country."

Well we look forward to using the new live updates on Google Maps and we hope all of the Olympics visitors enjoy the games and their stay.

Photo © engineroomblog via Flickr, under Creative Commons Licence

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Friday, January 20, 2012

 

Motorway moggy

Sometimes it can feel like you’ve been on the motorway for an eternity – especially if there are traffic jams slowing you down.

However, usually we’re not actually on the highway for as long as we think and we can always pop into motorway services along the way for a break – unlike a cat that recently made some news reports.

The poor over-adventurous feline found its way up the 50 foot high concrete feet of an M4 road sign, but couldn’t get back down again.

It was stuck for 24 hours next to the busy motorway before traffic officers coaxed the cat back down to safety using a crane lift and some cat food.

Despite its ordeal, rescuers could tell that the cat was well looked after, and the RSPCA managed to return the moggy to its owners.

If I was that cat, I’d just stick to climbing onto the back of the sofa from now on.

Photo © Red Junasun via Flickr, under Creative Commons Licence

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Monday, January 16, 2012

 

Women are better drivers than men – Fact!

We all have an opinion on the long-standing myth that men are better drivers than women, so you will be pleased to hear that conclusive evidence has at last emerged to prove what we knew all along – women actually are the superior motorists.

An American insurance quote provider has released the new study ‘Women are bad drivers – fact or fiction?’ which compares traffic accident, violation and insurance price statistics between men and women to dispel the notion that women are bad drivers.

The results of the study have found that 80% of car accidents involving serious or fatal injuries are in fact caused by male drivers. It also reveals that women are 27% less likely to cause a road traffic accident than men.

Plus, you will be pleased to hear that the study confirmed that the number of traffic violations (motoring offences) is also higher for male drivers in every possible category than for women. These include reckless driving, speeding, seat belt violations and the more serious legal matters such as driving while intoxicated.

So, at last we can show once and for all that women are the better drivers! Whether due to their high testosterone, higher tendency to take risks or higher levels of aggression, the fact now remains – men make more mistakes behind the wheel than women. Well, in America anyway!

Photo © Steven-L-Johnson via Flickr, under Creative Commons Licence

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Friday, January 13, 2012

 

Is James Bond all cars and girls?

I had always avoided watching James Bond films after writing them off as a man’s fantasy flick, full of semi-clad girls, fast cars and ridiculous gadgets. However, my own interest in the Bond phenomena was sparked when I saw a billboard advert featuring the latest 007 star wearing nothing but a very tiny pair of swim shorts. I decided then that it was high time I got to grips with James Bond myself!

As Britain goes into Bond frenzy, celebrating 50 years since Sean Connery first graced our screens as the archetypal 007, now seems a better time than any. So, I’ve committed myself to an education in all things Bond by watching all 23 of the films.

I’m currently on the 4th movie and already I can see why men love this character, he is the epitome of cool; a suave, sophisticated and well-dressed man driving flash cars and dating attractive girls.

With each chapter in the Bond saga, the girls get more exotic and the names more far-fetched. I mean who would name their daughter Honey Rider, Pussy Galore or Mary Goodnight? The same could be said for the cars which get as extravagant and seductive as the women who join Bond’s adventures, from Aston Martins and Lotus Esprits to BMW sportscars and the Vanquish.

So, maybe I haven’t quite caught the Bond bug yet, but I’ve got another 19 films to go and of course there is still the infamous Daniel Craig beach scene to look forward to!

Photo © johanoomen via Flickr, under Creative Commons Licence

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Monday, January 9, 2012

 

Bottom-print car security

Japanese scientists from Tokyo's Advanced Institute of Industrial Technology have come up with an amusing idea that some drivers might not be so keen on for a variety of reasons.

Apparently our bottoms are as unique to us as our fingerprints, so naturally researchers have created a chair pressure sensor which scans the seated person’s behind in order to check who they are…

Using 360 sensors to make a 3D image of the – ehem – rear, the chair can identify the individual who is sat on it with 98% accuracy.

Apparently the scientists believe that the chair could replace the need to use computer passwords in offices and also render car keys obsolete as soon as 2014.

We have a few questions – what happens when you have something in your back pocket, or have gained or lost some weight? And more importantly – what can be done about the 2% failure rate?

We’re not sure that we want to sit in our car, having just squeezed into some skinny jeans, for our car to tell us we’re not the owner of our own vehicle.

Photo © fazen via Flickr, under Creative Commons Licence

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Friday, January 6, 2012

 

Maybe exercise isn’t so good after all!

Some days I feel guilty about using my car when I could just as easily walk to where I need to be. After all those Christmas meals, drinks and treats I had, there’s no avoiding the fact that it’s about time I shape up and try a do a bit more exercise.

However, according to a new report I might actually be wrong. It has been claimed that over-exercising can make people six times more likely to catch flu.

Ok, so this is only thought to be a risk to keen sports people who run marathons and engage themselves in gruelling gym sessions on a daily basis, but the study, which was conducted at Loughborough University, hasn’t exactly done much to encourage me to begin a new exercise plan.

Unfortunately for me, a Professor has also stated that a brisk walk once a day should help to keep colds at bay.

Oh well, it looks like I ought to be leaving the car in garage after all!

Photo © _PaulS_ via Flickr, under Creative Commons Licence

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Tuesday, January 3, 2012

 

Award fails to panda to critics

“Outrage!” “Scandal!” “Travesty!” “Misogyny!” These were just some of the reactions to the BBC’s decision to include a panda in its list of nominees for 2011 “woman” face of the year.

Pippa Middleton (more accustomed to being in derriere of the year lists) and Adele (more familiar to voice of the year awards) were just two of the remaining eleven nominees.

Among those to express their disgust that a panda should be included in the list were John Prescott and MP Stella Creasy. The MP tweeted, "No offence to sweetie – sure a lovely panda and best in class etc, but clue is in title ‘women’ not 'female of the species' of the year ..."

Well, we at CoverGirl have determined that if you’re not ever likely to be eligible for womans car insurance, you probably should be considered ineligible for being awarded a woman of the year trophy, but then we listened to what the BBC had to say on the issue: "Including Sweetie (Tian Tian) as one of the annual headline makers was a light-hearted addition to the list, and this isn't the first time it has featured a non-human.”

So perhaps we’re not going to take the award’s list quite as seriously as we’d planned. Instead we’ll just say, “Well done, Sweetie… and nice mascara…”

Image © Joe Schlabotnik via Flickr, under Creative Commons Licence

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