Burscough motorist to sharpen driving skills on Channel 5 show

A WEST Lancashire motorist who “doesn't suffer fools gladly” is one of the drivers being featured on a motoring programme being broadcast on Channel 5 next week (Thursday, February 14).

Dudley Valentine, a self-confessed ‘inconsiderate driver', will be one of the motorists featured on Dangerous Drivers’ School, which sees AA driving instructors help people from across the country to sharpen their skills behind their wheel, in the latest episode of the show, which will be shown at 8pm.

The retired RAF pilot, 70, said he had been driven to the show after years of complaints from long-suffering partner Lynne, and was given a crash course from AA instructor Ashley Briggs for the show.

Mr Valentine said: "I wanted to address my driving because my partner had been saying to me for years that I was inconsiderate on the roads. After about 20 minutes with Ashley, I realised that I did need to make some changes.

"I have been driving for 53 years and over that time you get into bad habits and you do get complacent. I do feel that it made a big difference and my driving has changed for the better since taking part."

He is the latest in a series of drivers to be featured on the show improving their skills, following famous faces who have their own motoring mishaps, including former-Apprentice star Kate Walsh, actor Melvyn Hayes, comedian Rowland Rivron and ex-MP and author Edwina Currie.

Mr Briggs, who is seen instructing the West Lancashire driver in tomorrow night's episode, said: "The range of problems the drivers face in this series are very varied and it was a really enjoyable process to try and help them become safer.

"Dudley’s problems were more down to his attitude than any lack of driving skill. With something like driving that most people do very regularly, it is all too easy to bury your head in the sand about problems you are having and just try to battle on regardless. But, there is help out there and people should not feel they have to struggle on alone."

To coincide with the programme, the AA is offering 2,000 free courses to motorists who'd like to improve their skills behind the wheel. To find out more go to www.theaa.com.

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February's Top Office Furniture and Chair Deals

February is finally here and 2013 is in full swing. This month has brought a huge selection of top office furniture and seating solutions at discount prices for your home or business. With all the affordable new products available, this article highlights the top 5 items you can't afford to pass up!

Are you familiar with Studio Designs? You should be! Their offering of modern drafting tables and art furniture is amongst the industries best. When it comes to affordable drafting products there in stock selection is hard to beat. For that reason, the 10071 Futura White Glass Drafting Table is the first product you can't miss in February. Priced at $198.99 this modern drafting table is perfect for beginners and professionals. The 10071 makes an awesome gift and really enhances any space it graces. This stylish table includes 3 plastic molded slide out drawers for added storage. The curved leg design, tempered glass construction, and adjustable top add to the value of this fantastic piece of Studio Designs furniture and you won't see it priced lower than it is this month.

Next up, the Mayline 948 computer table. The needs of the smaller office have not gone un heard. This small modern computer desk is perfect for both home and business use. The 948 desk is from the popular Eastwinds furniture collection and is available in a choice of anthracite or medium cherry finishes. With an everyday low price of only $86.99, this unit offers a lot for the money. The built in CPU holder and keyboard platform add to the value of this versatile small computer desks and the free shipping saves you even more. What a bargain!

Not all ergonomic office chairs are created equal. That being said Eurotech Seating offers some of the absolute best and most affordable desk chairs for the home and business that really impress. Models like the MTHB94 Apollo mesh chair offer a host of top ergonomic attributes and user friendly features sure to keep you working efficiently all day long. This unique desk chair offers a tilt tension control, tilt lock, waterfall seat edge, and width adjustable arms all for a price of only $199.99. The breathable mesh back and pneumatic seat height adjustability are also worth noting. Quite honestly there are very few if any comparably priced seating solutions on the market with this wide a selection of features for a price this low. The MTHB94 is an absolute steal.

If one area is receiving a makeover more than any other in 2013, it's the break room. This month a host of Global Total Office tables are on sale now to meet the needs of this important office space. Units like the GC36CF are a great example of the deals available today. This modern round break room table features a commercial look that appeals to the needs of most contemporary businesses. Interior designers and consumers alike love the GC36CF as it's available in 10 laminate surface finishes and 2 frame finish options. Priced at $286.99 you'll be hard pressed to find comparable modern bistro tables with this much style!

Last but certainly not least we arrive at the BT30 Brighton Typical by Mayline. As with all modern Mayline furniture, this Brighton series office typical meets all reception area needs in one simple package. BT30 reception area furniture sets include ample storage, desk space, and incredible appeal all for $1700.99. This 6 piece furniture package is available in 2 unique laminate finishes and includes free shipping. The Brighton casegoods furniture collection is typically in stock, a nice feature for those in need of discount business furniture in a hurry. Additionally, the Brighton series includes a variety of discount executive desks and modern conference room furniture solutions to enhance every room of your office. The best part, the entire collection is on sale through February. Enjoy!

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The board game that had a monopoly on my motoring childhood

NEWS that the iron has been steamed off the Monopoly board in favour of a cat does at least mean one good thing - the piece modelled on the classic car is there to stay.

In a brilliant bit of marketing Hasbro, the company which makes the board game, asked Facebook's ten million Monopoly fans to vote on what should be the newest piece - and what it should replace. They voted for a cat to join the latest version of the game, and although the car was among the pieces under threat it was the iron that eventually got the chop.

Jonathan Berkowitz, vice president for Hasbro gaming marketing, said: “I’m sad to see the iron go. Personally, I’m a big fan of the racecar so I’m very relieved it was saved but it is sad to see the iron go.

"Tokens are always a key part of the Monopoly game, and our fans are very passionate about their tokens, about which token they use while they play."

The car - which, I'm led to believe was modelled on the game creator's 1932 Ford Roadster - was also the piece I plumped for when I played the game with my fellow Simisters as a child, if only because it helped my petrolhead credentials at such a tender age.

As a result, I spent much of my childhood pushing an old car around while being mentally prepared to lose a lot of money. Something that has had absolutely no effect on my adult motoring life whatsoever...

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What if the new Saab 9-3 had got the green light?

A COUPLE of sketches of what could have been the car to spark Saab's revival - the 9-3's replacement - have emerged today, giving an intruiging look into what could have been.

Without wanting to nick Autocar's pictures, it's clear to see exactly what the stylists of this distinctively Swedish hatchback were thinking of; the original 900, pictured, which arguably is the Saab people think of when asked to conjure up a mental image of the now-defunct executive car specialists. I liked the short-lived replacement for 9-5 when that came out, but I reckon this smaller sibling - which insiders reckon was about 60% completed and would have been launched last year had the plug not been pulled - would have been even better.

What's more, I reckon there would've been a market for it too - at least one of my mates, who knows an awful lot about cars, had the choice between a Mondeo and the outgoing 9-3 and opted for the Swede, even though it was considerably more expensive. When I made the inevitable joke that it was just a Vauxhall Vectra in drag, he told me it was a Vectra done properly, with almost every conceivable component redone to Swedish standards. It is, he insists, one of the best cars he's ever driven.

Which is why I reckon matching Saab's insistence for everything being perfect with a return to the original 900's quirky styling would have worked wonders for the firm. It's just a shame the 9-3's replacement is likely to remain one of motoring's great what-ifs...

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3 Money Saving Modern Office Chair Shopping Tips

The seating industries hottest new office chairs are available now. The new year has brought a multitude of ergonomic seating solutions for the home and business. With so many new models to choose from, how do you save the most money and find the best deals? This article highlights several key shopping tips to keep in mind when shopping for modern office chairs.

Tip 1: Know Your Body

The words modern and ergonomic are like two peas in a pod. When it comes to ergonomics, it's all about knowing your body. Before shopping for a new chair, take the time to determine the features that will work best for you. While most modern seating solutions feature a variety of standard ergo friendly features, many feature high end attributes that can cost you money.

How do you know what features will work best for you? Meet with an industry professional or chiropractor. They will be happy to discuss the benefits of popular ergonomic features like lumbar supports, headrests, pneumatic seat, and adjustable arms. A simple question to ask yourself is, "Will this chair feature increase my workplace productivity". If the answer is no, it's probably not worth spending money on!

Tip 2: Choose A Brand

There are a seemingly limitless number of seating manufacturers available today. Some specialize in traditional chairs and others more modern varieties. No matter your preference, set a budget before shopping. Once you've determined your individual price range, take a moment to call a few top online seating providers. By asking for brand recommendations in your price range you'll already be armed with more knowledge than the average consumer. Basing your purchase on looks alone is definitely not the best way to save money.

Some of the industries best and most respected seating manufacturers include OFM office chairs for big and tall chairs as well as executive computer seating. Another top brand is Eurotech Seating. This high quality ergonomic chair provider offers a host of affordable luxury chairs designed specifically around versatility and efficiency. Thirdly, Offices To Go chairs offer in stock seating solutions including mesh back desk chairs and other contemporary styles. There products are fantastic for those looking for a new chair in a hurry. Manufactured by Global Total Office (another top brand) they offer excellent quality at extremely competitive prices.

Tip 3: Search For Discounts

Once you've chosen a brand, it's time to find a reputable dealer. Search for specials, deals, and coupons online at sites like tjoos.com and RetailMeNot.com. You'll be surprised just how much you can save in the few seconds it takes to do a search. As a rule of thumb, if you see a "enter coupon code" box during checkout, the odds are coupons are available!

Finding coupons should also be a major factor in choosing a dealer... but not the ultimate one. Discounts are great but consumer reviews are priceless. Search engines like Google are adding reviews next to products in their new comparison shopping engine that provide excellent insight on the dealer you might be considering. While one chair might be a few dollars cheaper at site A, site B may have a far better seller reputation which is of premier value. Choose a brand that values you as a customer and looks to make you a customer for life, not just a quick sale.

In conclusion, regardless of what you're shopping for online it's important to do your homework. It's easy to save money on a variety of quality office furniture and seating if you know where and how to look effectively. Utilizing comparison shopping engines, coupon sites, and dealer review sites, are an excellent way to get you started when purchasing anything from large executive furniture to smaller items like ergonomic monitor mounts. No matter your shopping need, any quality dealer should be willing to help identify your needs and assist with space planning and ergonomic benefits to help improve your daily work experience.

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The Ormskirk MotorFest is now on Facebook

AN AUTOMOTIVE spectacular which sees hundreds of classic cars and bikes take to the streets of Ormskirk has now got its own Facebook page.

Following the success of the 2011 and 2012 Ormskirk MotorFest events, which brought thousands of petrolheads into the market town in West Lancashire, the show's organisers are determined to make things even better for this year's event, and have launched a page on Facebook to help keep enthusiasts up to date.

The page, which will be updated regularly in the run up to the August 25 event, can be found at www.facebook.com/OrmskirkMotorfest2013 or by searching for "Ormskirk MotorFest" on Facebook. The event's Twitter account is also used for event updates, and can be found by searching @2013MotorFest on the microblogging website.

Both the Twitter and Facebook accounts for the Ormskirk MotorFest are updated by Life On Cars writer and Champion motoring correspondent David Simister, who has been closely involved with the event since its inception in 2010 and produced the official souvenir magazines for the 2011 and 2012 events.

Work on a new website to promote the 2013 event is also underway, but you can still enter your car or bike by going to www.ormskirkmotorfest.com and filling in the online entry form.

This year's Ormskirk MotorFest takes place from 11am on Sunday, August 25 in Ormskirk town centre, Lancashire.

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Toyota in convertible GT86 shocker

IT WAS only a matter of time. Toyota is considering putting a convertible version of its fabulous GT86 into production.

The Japanese car giant will unveil what it's calling the FT-86 Open at this year's Geneva Motorshow in a few week's time, and while it's calling it a concept car I wouldn't be fooled; if the original FT-86 concept coupe was anything to go by, I'd put my money on an al fresco version of the rear-drive enthusiasts' favourite being in the offing.

It's one of two concepts the company's showing off in the Swiss city - the other being what's billed as Toyota's response to the Renault Twizy - and while the official line is that it'll only decide to put the FT-86 Open into production if the public likes it, chances are it will. What's not like about the inevitable but inviting prospect of one of the great drivers' hits of the past decade?

The coupe version of the GT86 is a bit of a Life On Cars favourite, blending sleek coupe proportions, keen pricing and old fashioned rear-wheel-drive, oversteer-happy dynamics to create something that offers as much fun as some sports car costing two or three times its £25,000 price.

The initial impression I got when I drove it last year was that it's a Mazda MX-5 on a 1.5 times scale with metal rather than fabric over your forehead but that's selling it short. It's somehow meatier and more challenging, but more thrilling too.

Of all the cars I drove last year, this was by far and away the one I had to fight my way past other journalists to get a go in, and I can understand exactly why. I can also also understand exactly why Jeremy Clarkson said the GT86, of all the four billion cars he drove last year, was his favourite. In an automotive landscape where everything is anodyne and the loudest sound you're likely to hear is the chime of a seatbelt safety warning, the GT86 is a motor with a sense of mischief. It's a laugh.

Throw in open-top thrills (without ruining too much of the coupe's dynamics) and I reckon they'll have a bit of a roadster hit on their hands.

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