I think the Volvo D5 campaign has now come to its

scheduled end.

Perhaps it's entered a new dimension on the roads - I had to stop because of an accident just round a bend on a country road and shortly after stopping heard something sounding large and busy approaching.

There was a huge hiss and sound of tyres scrabbling for grip, and when I finally had the nerve to look in my mirror it was pretty well filled with O V L O V on the front of the truck!

Another unwelcome popup.

I cannot help agreeing with Aprilia, based on my own experience:

I decided to give Optimax a fair trial by using it for three successive tankfulls. I made sure the tank was nearly dry before filling with Optimax for the first time and then ran the car as normal for three full tanks (around 1000 miles, 3-4 weeks motoring).

I found my overall economy on the regular commute fell from 29.5 to 27.8 - despite making a conscious effort to drive "normally". At the end of the third tank, using my own stopwatch, I could detect no measurable improvement in performance across a number of speed increments.

The only positives I could detect was that the engine did seem to run slightly quieter and pick up from a standstill was a tad better. Cold running hesitancy (sticking valves, apparently) was unchanged.

I run a Rover 820 Vitesse Sport, which ought to be able to make use of any octane improvements. I run it full time on Tesco fuel (standard unleaded). For the record - on standard tesco fuel at Alconbury airfield about 2 yr ago, with Revs timing gear onboard and me driving, the car could better the 30-70 thro' the gears acceleration time as published by Autocar when they tested this model (I got 6.5 vs Autocars 6.8 secs). This despite dodgy HT leads (changed about a month later), needing a new clutch and having crap tyres (also both changed since).

Most of my motoring is cross country flying. If Optimax could give me more mid range oomph then I'd use it more often. As it is I could detect nothing of worth except my wallet emptying faster. I will, however, use it for any more track days.

It would also be interesting to know whether Shell sell Optimax in the USA and what claims they make for it there!! Bear in mind that several fuel additive manufacturers have had to make massive payouts to disgruntled customers after failing to substantiate their claims in court.

Growler,
This brought back a memory of around 10 years ago in Makati...customer asked if he could pay an outstanding invoice to me...no problem said I, expecting a cheque of course.

In the middle of the office, the accountant laid out $18900 in $100 bills and asked me to check them..the cost of getting someone 'rubbed out' was $100 at the time.

All of the staff knew that I always stayed at the Century Park Sheraton - where I noticed on return that the door chain was knackered and the room safe was not working.

The guy in the next seat on the flight home wondered why my feet were on my briefcase during the flight.

However, very fond memories of very kind people who overcome so many tragic events with a smile - do they still plant trees in your name at Christmas I wonder?

Matt35.

The old adage about "better to arrive late than not at all" was drummed into me from an early stage, but I have to admit I only really understood it when I became a father. That co-incided with the death of my stepfather, so the realisation dawned that I was not immortal - if my stepfather could die then so could my son's father....

I once found a driving tuiton book from the early 60s. The introduction said that the best way to drive was as if every other driver was incompetent and you were the one that had to compensate. Since reading that I've tried to anticipate what would be the most stupid or dangerous thing for the other road user(s) to do, such as "X will change lane without looking or indicating". Then, if they do, you get a smug sense of satisfaction that you saw that one coming and were ready for it, rather than the cold grip of fear that would normally result. If they don't, you also (oddly) get a little less cynical about the world, which is also a help to reducing stress. It also helps keep you focussed on the world outside the car.

Another trick is to watch your own driving carefully - none of us are perfect so every now and then you realise that someone else is cursing you. Next time someone does something stupid you are less likely to rant, if you remember doing it yourself.

The tactic that really worked for me was to adjust the way I rated my driving, from "how quick" to "how smooth". It's just as difficult to do, and probably more so around "interesting" bends.

Hillwoman pointed out that the bull gave in far too quickly and that it was staggering sideways as the clip ended. Does that suggest a big shot of valium?