It's (not quite) the end of the road for Life On Cars

THE END is nigh. Well, at least it would have been, because tomorrow marks what could have been the last time Life On Cars appears in The Champion.

After three-and-a-bit years of motoring mishaps I'm off to pastures new next week - a job writing for Classic Car Weekly - so it's probably a better time than any to reflect on the automotive adventures I've had so far. Adventures where I've been priveliged to have you, the petrolheads across Sefton and West Lancashire, in the passenger seat with me.

The sort of adventures which included nailing the Vauxhall VXR8's throttle on the high speed bowl at Millbrook or winding my way over a Welsh mountain pass in an MX-5, or that marvellous morning when I had some of the best roads in the Derbyshire Dales at my disposal and a Lotus Evora S to tackle them in. Then there was the intoxicatingly noisy fighter plane thrills of thundering through Southport in a Morgan Threewheeler, using a Peugeot cabriolet to get from Settle to Carlisle eleven minutes quicker than the Settle to Carlisle train can, and discovering just what 542bhp, courtesy of a Jaguar XKR-S, feels like.

But better still are the real world thrills I've shared. Stuff like the utter joy that is the steering, feel and handling on an original Mini. Then there was the revelation that a borrowed Ford Transit is far more fun through the corners than it's got any right to be, and the smiles that I've had by travelling back in time every time I start up my own classic car of choice - my 1972 MGB GT, which on two occasions I've had the privelige of parading around the Ormskirk MotorFest. Which brings me onto the car shows I've covered - and there were, when I counted, no less than 25 of them in 2012 alone - where I've met countless fellow enthusiasts and gawped longingly at legions of old Astons, Jags and Ferraris.

And that's before I get onto the one new car that's left more of an impression on me than any other.
While there'll always be space for an original Mini in my extended Euromillions winner garage there is one new car out of the dozens I've tested that, for me at least, blended real world frills, proper petrolhead thrills and sensible pricing better than any other. A final special mention, then, for a hot hatch I've raved about on several occasions - the wonderful little Suzuki Swift Sport.

Life On Cars will, for now at least despite the changes, continue both in The Champion and online right here. I'd still love to hear about your motoring stories and events. I'm looking forward to sharing even more adventures, even if they're from a bit further afield!

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Real ales at the double for Scarisbrick military vehicle event

A WEST Lancashire pub has teamed up with a brewery and a brigade of military vehicle owners to create two beers specially for a celebration of wartime machines next month.

The owners of the Heatons Bridge, in Scarisbrick, told The Champion they are working with Burnley-based Moorhouses Brewery to create two beers specially for the Military Vehicle Invasion event being held there on April 12 and 14 in memory of Mark Lancaster, who spearheaded two similar events at the pub but passed away last year.

Two real ales will be on offer, including one called Just Jane, which is named after a restore Avro Lancaster bomber which now has a photo of Mark in the cockpit. A stronger real ale, called Tanked Up, will also be on offer and plays on the connection with the military vehicles being brought by members of the South Cumbria and North Lancashire military vehicle trusts to the pub.

Steve Winrow, landlord at the Heatons Bridge, said: “I'm hoping that these two beers will be a hit with visitors to the show, especially as they play on the pub's existing military connections, including our longstanding association with Lancaster Bomber bitter and the World War Two pillbox which we have on the site.

"We're also redesigning our food and drinks menu to have a bit of a military theme on the weekend - chicken nuggets and chips, for example, will be called muck and bullets. It's quite a poignant tribute to Mark, particularly the ‘Just Jane' beer and its connections to Mark and the Lancaster bomber."

Both real ales will be brewered by Burnley-based Moorhouses Brewery, which brews several of the beers already on offer at the West Lancashire pub, including the Lancaster bomber bitter.

While the range of military vehicles on display, ranging from Jeeps and Land Rovers to tanks and trucks, will remain similar the event will have an additional poignant touch, having been named the Mark Lancaster Memorial Weekend in tribute to the organiser of both of the previous military invasion events, who passed away last year.

The event, which takes place on Friday, April 12 through to Sunday, April 14, is free to visit. For more information send an email to pconnolly@btinternet.com or or call 01704 545786.

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Bikers urged to join Southport Cruisers on charity run

Members of Southport Cruisers on their last Christmas run to Clumber Lodge

A GROUP of motorbike riders from Southport are revving up plans to bring a bit of Easter excitement to the residents of a children's home in Formby.

Southport Cruisers said plans are underway for a ride across the West Lancashire countryside on Sunday, March 24 to the Clumber Lodge Children's Home in Formby, where they will donate gifts and Easter eggs to the young residents there along with the cash donations for the home itself.

Club spokesman Rob Myall said: "Southport Cruisers Motorcycle Club was formed in 2005 and have been doing the Christmas and Easter runs ever since. We meet at the Ring ‘o' Bells public house every Wednesday at 8pm.

"Anyone on a motorcycle, trike or scooter wishing to join us and give the children something to smile about would be made more than welcome."

If you'd like to join the cruisers on their run to Formby, meet them at 11am on the morning of Sunday, March 24 at the Ring ‘o' Bells pub in Lathom, where the run will start.

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