< Previous80 LINCOLNSHIRETODAYIndeed for some, their animals are very much part of thefamily and receive just as much care and attention as everyoneelse.Around this time of year, though, it’s an unfortunate fact that,for some new pet owners, the novelty could have worn off. Thefamiliar phrase is that a pet is not just for Christmas but sadlythat doesn’t stop a number of people deciding to plump for ananimal almost on a whim without deciding whether they canmake a full-time commitment. Happily, education is now suchthat it’s a less frequent occurrence but it’s always worth checkingand double checking as to whether you’re happy to give up thetime and space to a new addition to the family.More often than not it’s kids who are the most persistent inrequesting a pet, and sometimes they do consider it simply thenext craze after the Furby, ready to be forgotten when the nextexcitement comes along. That’s why organisations such as theBlue Cross in Lincolnshire have a network of trained volunteerspeakers delivering talks to children about important issues suchas how to look after a pet and how to stay safe around dogs.As Tracy Genever, education manager for The Blue Cross,explains, “Educating the pet owners of the future is an essentialpart of Blue Cross’s work promoting happy, healthy pets acrossthe UK. Children always really enjoy the talks,especially when our volunteers take their own speciallyassessed dogs along. By teaching them how to carefor animals at an early stage we hope to reduce thenumber of abandoned and neglected pets in thefuture – and learning about safety around dogs isessential for children of any age.”In Lincolnshire we’re lucky enough to benefit fromthe work of the Blue Cross, and indeed organisationssuch as the Exotic Pet Refuge in Deeping St James,who give a home to animals ranging from skunks tosilver foxes and from ferrets to fruitbats. Yet it’s aloving home that is the best place for a pet – andLincolnshire’s experts can offer plenty of advice tomake sure you know what you’re getting when youwelcome a pet into your home.Organisations such as the Blue Cross inLincolnshire have a network of trainedvolunteer speakers delivering talks to childrenPETS CORNERLoveyourPETFor many people it’s impossibleto beat the companionship andthe sheer joy that comes fromowning pets080-081:Layout 1 21/1/13 10:33 Page 1We’d love to knowabout your pets! Shareyour stories about youranimal friends and we’llprint the best on our newPets Corner pages. Send your stories andphotos to Pets Corner, LincolnshireToday, Armstrong House, ArmstrongStreet, Grimsby DN31 2QE or share themwith us on Facebook, by searching forLincolnshire Today, or via @lincstoday onTwitter.The Lincolnshire Todayteam would like tointroduce you to some oftheir significant others.With all due respect totheir partners, here’s whoreally rules the roost intheir households.PETS CORNERPet PourriPamper your pet with some of these products!t: 07977 290920 / 01526 321226e: info@muddypawsdogtraining.uk.com w: www.muddypawsdogtraining.uk.com121 TrainingPuppy Classes Adult ClassesDog WalkingHome VisitsHouse SingThis is mineKeep your dog warm, dry and in stylewith these personalised towels.Absorbent and soft, these towelling ismade from extremely high quality100% Egyptian cotton which hasbeen ethically sourced.Go, go, goThe brand new Eglu Gocomfortably houses eithertwo guinea pigs or onerabbit. It’s supplied with asecure, spacious run and all-weather cover so your petscan go out to play wheneverthey want. The all-plasticdesign means it’s alsoespecially easy to clean.Betsy is enjoying a winter stroll in a rathernice coat while at Doggy Daycare and, justmissing the cut on our fashion pagesHumphrey is pictured in his wintercoat having a cuddle withLincolnshire Today’s AngieMegz is a member of the Trotthousehold and is what’s known as a7/8 pug, with its big personality belying its small sizeSkratch that itchCats love to scratchthings even more thanthey like to climb andnearly as much as theylike to sleep. With theSkratchKabin, a cat canhave a secure and snugplace to hide and napduring the day but canalso exercise those felineclaws on the speciallytextured scratchingsurface which coats theoutside of the Kabin.Pets on paradeLeading veterinary surgeries in Sleaford & Grantham providinga complete veterinary service from routine checkups and vaccinations to surgery and aftercare treatment.Sleaford Surgery:2 Lions Way, East Road Sleaford NG34 8GN Tel: 01529 303344Grantham Surgery:Old Grantham Barracks,Sandon Road NG31 9ASTel: 01476 574304Email: surgery@kirksvets.co.uk www.kirksvets.co.ukFriendly, professional and experienced veterinary centre in Brigg11 Barnard Avenue, Brigg, DN20 8AS 01652 653 224 www.oldcourtvets.co.ukOLD COURTS VETERINARY CENTREConsultations by appointment only24 hour emergency service provided080-081:Layout 1 21/1/13 10:34 Page 282 LINCOLNSHIRETODAYEQUINEOf course, if the worst happens, you could be in for somethingof a shock when receiving a huge vet bill – at which point anysaving you may have enjoyed by avoiding insurance will seem verysmall indeed.So if you’re looking at equine insurance, what’s on offer? BrendaGilligan, Senior Solicitor at Wilkin Chapman and author of ‘PracticalHorse Law – A guide for owners and riders’, explains more...When looking at insurance, you should ask around people youknow for their experiences with different companies. Checkwhether it’s worth joining an association such as the British HorseSociety for the insurances they provide. It can be worth paying abit more for a better level of service. Look at samples of differentpolicies, particularly the “small print” to make sure the policy yougo for provides the cover you want at the level you need – whetheryou are a competitor or leisure rider.What policies are available? There are many public liability coversyou for compensation for injuries to other people or sometimesanimals, caused by your negligence in a horse related context. Itmay also cover their legal costs if they are successful in a claimagainst you. It can be extended to cover loanees in some cases. Itmay not cover the cost of you making a claim against someoneelse, but this can sometimes be negotiated.A policy for horse illness or injury will cover vets fees, but willhave a limit for cover in financial terms and the number of claimsmade in a period of time. Check exactly what it covers if you areinterested in alternative treatments. If you make a claim, you maybe excluded from making a similar claim in the future. This covermay also include “loss of use” or death, though you may not getthe full value of your horse or replacement cost. Theft/straying policies speak for themselves, but your horse willnot be deemed stolen or strayed for a period after it has gonemissing. Custody, care and control policies cover you while you’relooking after someone else’s horse if it injures itself or injuressomeone else. It may not cover injuries or loss to you.The personal accident policy is designed to cover your own lossesand compensation for injury if you are injured by someone else’shorse you are not responsible for. They can, however, be veryspecific as to the type of injury they will pay out for, and, contraryto popular view, it doesn’t stop you from making a claim againstsomeone where you think they may have been negligent.There are also rider-only policies and you can ask about tailormade policies. The key is to make sure that the policy is the rightone for you. In all cases, make sure the limit of cover is sufficient. Atone time, a million pounds was enough, but compensation awardsIf the worsthappens...Equine insurance is one of those things thatunless compulsory, we tend not to budget for inthe hope that we won’t need it.082-083:Layout 1 21/1/13 10:36 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRETODAY83EQUINEof five million plus are not unusual in serious injury cases these days. Make sure too that you can comply with the terms of the policyyou want. If the terms say “tack to be kept in a locked brick builtbuilding”, stick to it – you won’t be covered when tack is stolenfrom your garden shed. Policies are sold as a safety net for whenthings go wrong, but never forget the insurers are also bigbusinesses who aim to make a profit. If they can legitimately get outof paying your claim, they will. Don’t offer them the opportunity.If your horse goes out on loan or share, you need to tell theinsurers and sometimes get their permission. They will want a copyof the loan agreement. Continue to pay the premiums yourself asyou then know it’s done. Keep the policy and give a copy to theperson loaning your horse. Make it a condition of loan that theyadhere to the policy. Of course, riding schools have to haveinsurance to be licensed to operate.Don’t admit liability if you have an accident – it may invalidateyour policy. It’s the insurer’s job to decide whether they acceptliability on your behalf or not.You may find the cost of insurance prohibitive but it may well payfor itself the first time you receive a vet bill. As long as you take acareful look at what you’re buying, you’re paying for peace ofmind.If the termssay “tack to be keptin a locked brickbuilt building”, stick to it082-083:Layout 1 21/1/13 10:36 Page 284 LINCOLNSHIRETODAYIt would seem that customer enthusiasmfor electric cars has failed to ignite, asconcerns around the cost of running andmaintaining the vehicles prove too high arisk for cash-strapped buyers The cost of batteries and recharging thevehicles has been cited as a major deterrentto those considering electric vehicles and itwould seem the motor industry will have torethink their plans to replace the commoncombustion engine with an alternativemethod if they are to meet customer needs,according to KPMG’s recent survey The logical choice at this moment in timeseems to be hydrogen powered vehicles butwhile automakers gather their thoughts anddecide on the way forward they plan tooptimise the petrol engine further andinvest in hybrid plug in fuel systems.“There is an increasing realisation that thepetrol engine has further scope foroptimisation,” says John Leech, KPMG’s UKHead of Automotive. “This a quite aturnaround in direction and a sign thatsome of the newer technologies are takinglonger than expected to emerge. This willbenefit the UK which is the second largestmanufacturer of petrol engine-poweredcars in Europe and especially UK suppliersof turbochargers and direct injection petrol-engine components.” The survey also warned new trends inglobalization, rapid urbanization andchanging consumer behaviour will cause abig shift in the automotive landscape overthe next five years. The collective impact isexpected to be felt across the entireautomotive value chain, and calls forsweeping changes to automakers’ - andtheir suppliers’- business models.“Together, these forces add considerablecomplexity to an automaker’s businessmodel,” says John Leech. “Whereas in thepast, automakers concentrated on justCould all theresearch anddevelopment intoelectrically poweredvehicles been awasted resource?No enthusiasm forelectric propulsion084-085:Layout 1 21/1/13 10:40 Page 1producingpetrol engine cars,now they must cope with a range ofpropulsion technologies, new trends suchas car sharing, internet connectivity aswell as the growing significance ofemerging markets. It is indeed a hugelytransformative time for the global autoindustry.”Concerns around cost top consumers’agendasNot surprisingly, a staggering 92% ofrespondents say that fuel efficiency forcost reasons is the primary factor inLINCOLNSHIRETODAY85COUNTY MOTORINGvehicle purchasingdecisions.Environmentalconcerns such asreducing CO2 emissionsremain important to theconsumer, but slipped fromsecond place in the global auto surveyto fourth this year. Congestion in cities will change theway we own carsThe rapid growth and increasingcongestion of urban areas coupled withchanging consumer thinking on carownership in cities is giving rise to a keeninterest in new solutions to owningtransport. Over two-thirds of respondents envisionnew alternative solutions to single vehicleownership such as vehicle-sharing or pay-per-use. Emerging markets fuel demand for 4x4sInterestingly, while the trend amongcost-conscious consumers in maturemarkets is to downsize to smaller, morefuel-efficient vehicles, the reverse can beseen in emerging markets where buyerswant larger, more upscale cars such assport utility vehicles, mid-size and multi-purpose vehicles. Just 39% of respondentsfrom mature markets, for example, expectmarket share for SUVs to increase; while66% of respondents from the BRICsexpect an increase in market share for thistype of vehicle. John Leech says, “JLR has benefitedfrom China’s desire for 4x4s in recentyears and although this trend is set tocontinue there is increasing competitionfrom other carmakers who are planninglaunches in 2013. This could pose a realthreat to JLR and challenge their dominantposition in the market.” There is an increasing realisation that the petrolengine has further scope for optimisation“This aquite a turnaround indirection and a sign thatsome of the newertechnologies are takinglonger than expected toemerge.”084-085:Layout 1 21/1/13 10:40 Page 286 LINCOLNSHIRETODAYCOUNTY MOTORINGNo, this one is rather special. You see, Italianfounder Enzo Ferrari always felt his road carsshould stem from the racers, and 25 yearssince his death, it seems entirely fitting thatthis 21st century 12-cylinder model is themost powerful Ferrari street car ever launched. Delivering unprecedented performance froma new engine, combined with an innovativedesign, the result is a sleek, aggressive,stunning coupe.Inside the handcrafted detailing andleather highlights the balance ofadvanced technology and inthe middle of the light andlean dashboard arecarbon fibre and aluminium air vents clearlyinspired by the aeronautic field. Behind the wheel, the cockpit is designed toguarantee the most involving drivingexperience. Accelerating from 0-60 mph in 3.1seconds and from 0-124 mph in 8.5 seconds,the sheer power and speed unleashed is out ofthis world. Of course, Ferrari has a celebrated history,both on the race track where it remains one ofFERRARIF12berlinettaThe very first Ferrari,built in 1947, was a12-cylinder racing car.Over six decades later,the marque’s latestmodel, the F12berlinetta,is here. But it’s not justanother Ferrari - if everthere could be such athing. 086-087:Layout 1 21/1/13 10:42 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRETODAY87COUNTY MOTORINGthe most successful teams ever in Formula One. Likewise, onthe road, its record is unique, with its current cars thebenchmark for performance and its classic models the mostsought after in the world. In fact many celebrities are wellknown to be Ferrari enthusiasts. Take Jay Kay, the lead singerof British jazz funk band Jamiroquai. He is no stranger to themarque and has had most of the modern day Ferraris in hiscollection. Jay says, “My love of Ferrari dates to my childhoodyears, when their cars seemed to have something that othersdidn’t. In the 70s, Ferraris like the Daytona looked godlikeand unobtainable.” Similarly, the legendary Eric Clapton has never hidden hispassion for Ferrari, and recently took ownership of a special-edition SP12 EC – manufactured as part of Ferrari’s One-OffProgramme - to celebrate his long lasting experience as aFerrari owner. And, if its good enough for Mr Clapton then it’s goodenough for Lincolnshire Today readers (just). Indeed, the F12Berlinetta encapsulates the very essence of Ferrari. With itsmighty 6262cc engine, the newest addition to the PrancingHorse stable is capable of over 340 km/h (211 mph). It is alsonimble, responsive and delivers unparalleled drivinginvolvement. It is a car you will aspireto own. It is a car you willbecome addicted to.086-087:Layout 1 21/1/13 10:42 Page 288 LINCOLNSHIRETODAYCOUNTY MOTORINGApart from regular maintenance, haveyou done a lot of work on it?When I bought it about twenty yearsago I stripped and rebuilt the engine, andit’s had two sets of valves since then too.We did a bare metal re-spray as well; that’swhen we changed the colour to includethe cream. What’s it like to drive?Never forget it’s 65 years old! Driving acar made just after WW2 needs a differenttype of skill from driving a modern one. It’son cross-ply tyres, for a start, which feelcompletely different from modern radials.And it doesn’t have power steering or discbrakes, either. You have to anticipatethings far more, and be gentle with it.Did you have to learn the skills specially?Not really. I run a garage, and my sonused to compete on jet-skis and we’re inthe process of switching from that intomotorsport.Is this the original colour scheme?No; it would have left the factory inblack. We did a bare metal respray tointroduce the cream. It makes it a veryattractive wedding car.Does it travel far?It’s still working as a wedding car, inspite of being older than most brides’fathers. I suppose you could say it’s semi-retired now, because we’re not doing theamount of wedding business we used to.Brides tend to pick our Daimlers or Jaguarsbefore this one too. And people ask us totravel further afield.What ‘s the most useful tool you carry?I always have jump leads and a bigbottle of water – but wearing a suiton someone’s wedding day meansyou wouldn’t really be dressed todeal with a big breakdown if ithappened!Is this your only classic?No. Our wedding car business has afleet; two Daimlers, a Jaguar Mk VII and aJaguar MkII.What would it cost me to get a Wolseleylike this?Less than six thousand were made, andall before 1948, so you’d be hard pushedto find one at all, especially in such goodorder as this. Another example of thismodel – and with this kind of paintscheme as well – is available for weddinghire in Scotland. A basket case in need ofrestoration is available for almost £3000.£5750 would buy a police car version of asimilar model from the same year.Lots of Lincolnshire motoristscherish cars from bygonemotoring eras, when the roadswere less crowded, and carshad more character.The result is that you’llsometimes see something a littledifferent on the roads, a car thatwill cause comment amongstyour passengers, and perhapseven prompt someone to say:“My dad had one of those!”This month, Steve Wheeler ofSaxilby shows off his 65 yearold Wolseley 14/60.Do you have a very special classic car, somethingreally out of the ordinary? If you’d like to seeit featured in this column, emails.pearcey@blmgroup.co.ukMy other car’s a… WOLSELEY 14/60088:Layout 1 21/1/13 10:44 Page 1Opening hours : Sales DepartmentMonday - Friday: 9.00 to 18.00 Saturday: 9.00 to 16.00 Sunday: 11.00 to 16.00Opening hours : Service DepartmentMonday - Wednesday: 8.30 to 17.30 Thursday - Friday: 9.00 to 17.30 Saturday: 9.00 to 12.00Finance available - contact us today subject to statusWelcome to Just Audi VW Lincoln...Just Audi Volkswagen Lincoln is a dynamic new independent Audi Volkswagen specialist in Lincolnshire, offering sales, service and technical support for all Audi and Volkswagen group vehicles including Audi, Volkswagen, Seat & Skoda.Based on a 2 acre site in Lincoln on Outer Circle Road,our newly refurbished premises feature a superbly appointed showroom, workshop and outdoor displayarea for over 100 vehicles. The workshops are fullyequipped with the latest in diagnostic testing facilities.Just Automotive Solutions Ltd, Outer Circle Road, Lincoln LN2 4JA T: 01522 246777 E: sales@justaudivw.co.ukwww.justaudivw.co.ukJust RV’s is part of Lincoln based Audi/Volkswagen Specialists “Just Automotive Solutions Ltd”, situated in purpose-built premises on Outer Circle Road, Lincoln.Just RV’s specialise in the sale and brokerage of high quality American RV (Recreational Vehicle) Motorhomes, and arethe only dedicated American Motorhome specialist dealers in the East Coast and East Midlands area.We continuously scour the country for RV’s in exceptional condition, and with impeccable credentials. All our RV’s are prepared to thehighest standards, meticulously cleaned and valeted, and are available for viewing anytime during our normal opening hours. We alsopride ourselves on giving you the customer as much time and advice as necessary, to fully understand the workings and benefits of owning and operating one of these unique vehicles.T: 01522 246777 E: glenn@justrvs.co.uk www.justrvs.co.ukfrom left to right: Adrian, Steve, Richard & Rebecca089:Layout 1 21/1/13 10:45 Page 1Next >