Don Wales Holder of UK land Speed Record for an Electric Car | image copyright Ian Leslie / Medius

Don Wales holder of the UK Land Speed Record for an electric car, who is the nephew of Donald Campbell – another famous record breaker, announced earlier this that he will attempt to break his own electric record and exceed the outright record set by his grandfather, Sir Malcolm Campbell, in 1925 in the early spring of 2011.




Don Wales has clearly inherited the quest for speed. In May this year he twice broke the world land speed record for a lawnmower leaving it at 87.833mph. He also holds the world record for a steam powered car (148mph) as a member of Charles Burnett III’s British Steam car team at Edwards Airforce base in August 2009.

Speaking after successfully completing the RAC Brighton to London Future Car Challenge in a hybrid car, Wales said: “I have held the record for over ten years and it’s now looking very vulnerable. I want to set the UK record well beyond 150mph – the speed Sir Malcolm clocked in 1925. Ideally, I’d like to match his record of 1927 – 175mph.”

The attempt is part of the Campbell family celebration year of the centenary of Sir Malcolm Campbell first christening a car Bluebird at Brooklands in 1911.

Don Wales and the Bluebird Electric Team set the current record of 139mph in August 2000 on Pendine Sands, Wales. They will return to Pendine Sands in the spring of 2011 – the venue for Sir Malcolm’s successful land speed record attempts in the 1920s.

Wales also has plans to attempt a new world land speed record for a battery car and has his sights set on 500mph, and is currently evaluating several design options. He says: “At last the world is making real progress with electric vehicles as a viable alternative to the internal combustion engine. Ten years ago electric vehicles were unheard of in the news, and people couldn’t understand the importance of electric car technology. Now there’s a whole new generation of electric road cars in production. The UK is a world leader in automotive technology, particularly in the cutting edge and highly competitive field of motor sport, and Land speed record projects have a history of boosting technological developments which is why I’m planning a world beating battery car”.

Project Director Martin Rees said “Don’s ambition to be the fastest in the world is a goal we are all working hard to achieve and his recent speed record breaking exploits, and those we achieved in the electric Bluebird ten years ago, are testament to his undoubted dedication and commitment to excellence”. Rees added, “Taking the car back to Pendine next spring with improved drive and bodywork will be another chapter in the Campbell and Wales and Pendine story.”

Don Wales at Brooklands Museum, Surrey Collecting Bluebird for a new Land Speed Record in 2011 - 16th November 2010 Images Copyright Ian Leslie / Medius

His son, Donald, continued the record breaking tradition and broke the 400mph barrier in a turbine powered Bluebird.
Don Wales holds a World Land Speed Record, two American National Records and eight UK records.

More images available from Rex Features

flickrriver Lens Explorer

If you’re looking into buying a certain lens, you might be interested in seeing what kind of photography other people have done with that lens. Flickriver’s Lens Explorer page is a pretty easy way to quickly look through example photographs on Flickr that were captured with a specific lens. Just choose a brand and model, and begin browsing the river!

Porridge In A Pot (Photo by Medius / High Level)

Private aircraft charter company Synergy Aviation,based at Fairoaks Airport, Surrey, UK will be warming up passengers this autumn and winter with the addition of gourmet porridge to its breakfast menu. Synergy will be the first business aviation company to offer passengers organic porridge sourced from innovative food company, Grasshopper.

The award-winning porridge, which is currently available in four flavours, Plain, Cinnamon & Raisin, Coconut & Date and perennial favourite Chocolate, is served in a heat resistant, recyclable one-portion pot. All that’s required for preparation is hot water and a spoon, making this ideal for Synergy’s fleet consisting predominantly of Cessna Citation jets and Beechcraft King Air turboprops. Clients can make their selection when they board, and once take off is complete the porridge is served.

“Clients travelling on chilly winter mornings can now enjoy a filling and warming breakfast to stave off the hunger pangs until lunchtime,” says Synergy Managing Director Captain Glen Heavens, “We selected the Grasshopper brand as it provides a tasty and convenient way of serving hot breakfasts on our aircraft. It’s quick and easy to prepare and as the packaging is compact, we can easily store it on board,” Glen continued. The porridge will be available on all flights enabling passengers to enjoy a warm snack at any time of day. This is the first of a number of planned changes to the catering on Synergy. This is part of Synergy’s continuous catering enhancement scheme and follows the introduction of Synergy’s unique VIP in-flight catering boxes.

Grasshopper is an original, young brand focused on providing porridge in a pot. It has become instantly popular with water-sports enthusiasts, festival goers and increasingly with business travellers. In March this year Grasshopper won a Mercury Award from the International Travel Catering Association for best onboard food within the travel industry.

Privately-owned Synergy Aviation, established five years ago by Glen Heavens, operates a range of business aircraft across Europe including Cessna Citation jets and Beech King Air turboprops.  The company also runs a flying school – the Fairoaks Flight Centre based at Fairoaks Airport in Chobham Surrey, very close to junction 11 of the M25  Synergy’s operates it charter business  from the following airports – London Biggin Hill, London Luton and Fairoaks, Chobham.

www.synergyaviation.com

The lorry and damaged train were removed over the weekend and line is is now running again and the bridge in undergoinf repairs.

Damaged Bridge at Oxshott Surrey

More Photo’s here at High Level Photography Ltd

Site of Cobham Motorway Services Area M25 Surrey (c) Ian Leslie High Level Photography

Read more information on this at High Level Photography’s site an the following detailed article on the Cobham Motorways Services M25 Site.

Bugatti Beats All Comers in Double Twelve Competition

Riley Sprints to Top Honours on the Track

Brooklands 1907- 1939 Memorial

A 1926 Bugatti Type 35 which was sold to its first owner by Brooklands personality Malcolm Campbell made a triumphant return to the Birthplace of British Motorsport.  It beat a strong field of immaculate classic cars to take overall first place in the Brooklands Double Twelve competition on Sunday for its current owner, Chris Jaques. And in a similarly nail-biting finish on the Mercedes-Benz World circuit next door, Pete Candy’s 1936 Riley Special “Super Rat” stole first place in the Brooklands Speed Trials by just 0.2 sec from Terry Crabb’s ERA  R12C. The two competitions kept a strong crowd at the 2010 Brooklands Double Twelve Motoring Festival – organised by Brooklands Museum and the Vintage Sports-Car Club – captivated throughout two days of motoring action, spectacle and glamour which culminated with the Museum’s Royal Patron Prince Michael of Kent presenting the Double Twelve prizes.

In the Double Twelve competition – in which car and driver had to excel in both complicated driving tests and the rigorous judging of a concours d’élégance to be in with a chance of winning – the Bugatti narrowly but decisively beat Simon Taylor’s beautiful 1937 Bentley 4¼ litre Sedanca Coupé, which was a winner at last year’s Pebble Beach concours in the USA. Other class winners included John Dennis’ 1907/16 Berliet-Curtiss racer, Alex Pilkington’s 1930 Alfa Romeo 1750 Zagato, Bryan Smart’s 1973 Porsche 2.7 RS Carrera and Jo Moss’ 1973 Morgan Plus 8.

Another historic Grand Prix Bugatti claimed honours in the Brooklands Speed Trials – this time it was Martin Overington’s spectacular 1927 Type 35B grand prix car, which was the fastest Vintage (pre-1931) car, taking just 1.36 longer to cover the 900 metre course than Candy’s time of 43.0 sec. The fastest road-going sports car was Andrew Mitchell’s 1937 HRG 1½ litre, and honours in the closely-fought Edwardian (pre-1919) class – with six giant racers taking part – went to Karl Foulkes-Halbard’s  5 litre 1907 Corbin Vanderbilt Cup car.

Brooklands Museum Director Allan Winn said: “The 2010 Brooklands Double Twelve Motoring Festival proved to be a real hit with competitors and spectators alike. We were very pleased to see so many families and enthusiasts enjoying the biggest competition event held at Brooklands since the original circuit closed in 1939. We look forward to building on the success of this weekend at the next event in June 2011.”

Mike Stripe, Secretary of the Vintage Sports-Car Club commented: “The VSCC and Brooklands have a natural affinity and it was most pleasing to see the two organisations working together for the Brooklands Double Twelve Motoring Festival.  Close but friendly competition was the flavour of the weekend, both on the Mercedes-Benz World track and on the legendary Brooklands banking, some 70 years on from the first Double Twelve Events in the 1920s and 30s”.

Medius, specialists in  PR and Event Photography,  and it’s sister company, High Level Photography, specialists in Low Level Aerial Photography from mobile masts were at Brooklands Museum on Saturday the 5th June 2010 to photograph some aspects of the Brooklands Double 12 Event.

Brooklands – the world’s first purpose-built motor racing circuit, constructed at Weybridge, Surrey in 1907 – was morethan a great sporting arena. Brooklands was the birthplace of British motorsport and aviation, home of Concorde and the site of many engineering and technological achievements throughout eight decades of the 20th century.

2010 sees The Brooklands Double Twelve returns, with Brooklands Museum Trust as the official organiser – and with all proceeds going to support the work of the Trust in preserving the legacy of Brooklands and inspiring future generations.  Action on the Mercedes-Benz World circuit centred on dozens of Pre-war cars taking part in a full competitive sprint on the Saturday, while over 100 top-class classic cars (up to 12 in each of 12 classes) will competed by invitation in the unique Double Twelve competition, combining Driving Tests and Concourse, on the Museum site on both days.

The Double Twelve borrows its name from the 24 hour races organised by the Junior Car Club (JCC) at Brooklands from 1929, but takes its inspiration from rallies organised by the JCC and the Royal Automobile Club in the late 1930s in which the elegance of the competing car was as important as the skill shown by the drivers in tricky manoeuvres. Its return was well received by motor sport enthusiasts and is a highlight of the British historic motor sports events calendar.

In addition to the competitions, a wide spectrum of one-make clubs put on their own stunning displays of cars on the Sunday to complement the celebratory atmosphere. Plenty of action going went throughout the weekend, including Test Hill activities, a Trade Village and family entertainment.

The Vintage Sports-Car Club, providers of motor sport events since 1934, were appointed as official organisers of the competitive elements. The VSCC and Brooklands Museum have enjoyed a long friendship, thanks to a common interest in Pre-war machinery.

The event was open to visitors at 9am on Saturday 5th and Sunday 6th June.

ex Formula 1 Racing driver Jonathan Palmer congratulates Glen Heavens on adding another Beech King Air 200GT to Synergy’s fleet.

This new arrival now makes Synergy Aviation one of the largest King Air operators in Europe

All of the aircraft are available for charter and have been fitted with the Raisbeck modifications allowing for greater performance.

Glen Heavens, MD of Synergy, commented “we are thrilled that the market is still thriving for King Air management and charter. Synergy continues to develop its expertise in relation to this aircraft type enabling us to offer greater capacity.  Furthermore we have succeeded in gaining approval for RVSM capability allowing the King Air 200GTs to cruise at 35,000ft thus making it a seriously cost effective option for chartering domestically and into Europe”.

Synergy also welcomes a London Biggin Hill based Cessna Citation CJ (G-THNX) which joins alongside Synergy’s London Luton based Cessna Citation CJ2+ (G-SYGC).

Synergy’s Paddy Magan in front of Citation CJ (G-THNX)

The Citation CJ  is new to the charter market and offers the very latest cabin interior,  which is providing a popular option to travellers looking for a more cost effective entry level jet on those longer European sectors.

Jane Thompson - Synergy Aviation's new Marketing Director

When asked how the company was performing Glen said “Overall we are very pleased to be growing in difficult financial conditions, whilst the market is not as buoyant as the industry would like Synergy is still trading well”.  ”We are also delighted to welcome on board Jane Thompson as our new Marketing Director who joins us with a strong aviation background” .

Jane will be joining Glen Heavens – Managing Director, Paddy Magan – Commercial Director and Alastair Summers – Operations Manager, at EBACE this year in Geneva.

Synergy continues to operate a mixed fleet of Piston, turbo-prop and jet aircraft throughout Europe giving clients an ever-broader aircraft choice allowing for more cost effective options when chartering for VIP, AOG, medical or cargo business.

Synergy Aviation are available 24hrs a day 7 days a week and can be contacted on 08456 747 747 or +44 1276 485 747 or visit www.synergyaviation.co.uk

Sandra Niehaus from Closed Loop Marketing

Sandra Niehaus continues her series of great articles about the use of using photos effectively in websites.

This article continues a series of guidelines to help you with website image selection. Part 1,  covered some general principles to consider. Part 2 discussed ways to use images to support your company’s brand. In this article she will discuss ways to deal with a tricky image element — the human face.

Using faces in photos on your website presents some unique challenges. I’ll group these challenges into two major groups for this article: “Faces draw attention” and ”Faces don’t mean the same thing to everyone.”

Major Challenge #1: Faces Draw Attention

People look at faces. That’s just how we’re built, as humans. We look at eyes and mouths in particular to help us identify the person, their mood, and their intent towards us.

This can pose a problem for websites if faces are not used carefully. A face — or faces — in a prominent location on your web page can easily distract attention away from your product, message, or call to action. In other words, faces can become a true detriment to your website.

For example, take a look at the Shutterfly home page:

Since I’ve had to shrink down the size quite a bit for inclusion here, the distraction effect is a bit exaggerated. But you can see, even at this size, how the faces on the page attract your attention — to the detriment of the “Learn more” and “Go” buttons. It’s a tough challenge for a photo product site, to be sure!

As another example, take this on-site promotion from Target.com:

This is a pleasing ad with a strong, clear message. But theNow, given enough time a visitor would eventually see the main call to action in this promotion. If you missed it the first time, take another look — it’s the “Shop These Looks” text link. The models’ faces are pleasing, but they are a much stronger element than the call to action.

Suggestions for Dealing with This Issue

Turn the face towards your offering

You can use the attractive power of a face by turning it towards your product or call to action. Depending on the context, this can help direct your visitor’s attention to the area you want them to peruse.  This full article can be found at http://www.wilsonweb.com/design/niehaus-choosing-images3.htm