Hull Daily Mail

Drivers Flout Mobile Ban

New mobile phone regulations are having little impact on car drivers, according to a poll. This attitude is not inspired by ignorance as 92 per cent of those polled were aware they now faced fines and penalty points on their licences for flouting the regulations.

Racers Open Up for Charity

Motorsports team Prodrive is opening up its motorsport headquarters at Banbury to the public on July 14 and 15 to raise money for charity. Johnny Herbert and David Brabham will be driving the Aston Martin DBR9, while the team performs live Le Mans-style pit stops on the car. The Subaru World Rally Team will be setting up its World Rally Championship service park in the grounds and carrying out timed services on Petter Solberg's Impreza World Rally Car.

March of the Mods

Pickering Showground will be home to more than 500 modified cars on Sunday. From street cars to custom vans, there will be vehicles of all shapes and sizes at what is probably the the number one modified car show in the north.

Saab Helps Drive for Cleaner Heir

His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales has given Saab BioPower the green light, getting behind the wheel of the UK's first eco- friendly convertible. Well known for his interest in the environment, Prince Charles had a number of questions for Jonathan Nash, the managing director of Saab Great Britain, at a meeting which preceded the London to Brighton eco-car rally, which was taking place on World Environment Day.

Running Costs Up

Aa Motoring Costs 2007 says that compared to the same time last year, it now costs pounds77 more to keep a typical small family car on the road. And, in recent weeks, petrol price and interest rate rises have increased motorists' financial burden even more, adding almost another penny to the cost of each mile driven.

Cyclists' Fears

Many would-be cyclists are being put off from taking to the roads through fear of traffic, according to a new survey. As many as 47 per cent of people never cycle and a further 17 per cent only use cycle paths and trails away from roads, a survey by road safety charity Brake and breakdown service Green Flag found.

No-Smoking Enforcers

I Read with interest on page 24 of the June 1 edition of Motors the article headed 'Smoking ban law puzzles company car drivers'. It would seem from the last sentence that your correspondent Steve Rushton is similarly puzzled. It will not be the police who will enforce the smoke-free legislation from July 1 - it will, in fact, be local council officers and Port Health Inspectors.

Shopping for 'Classics'

But recently I've found myself spending an increasing amount of time browsing the infinite shop window that is eBay. The motors section is where you'll most likely find me if I have a spare half hour in the evening or it's a wet lunch hour. I imagine I'm not the only one.

A Graceful Drive . . . Off Road

My smile was spread from ear to ear after a 140-mile cross- country drive and now I was headed into the black art of off- roading extremes. Just how much joy can a chap experience? The traditional fendered Jeep Wrangler has always posed a challenge. Its bias is defiantly off-road, at a time when on-road SUVers are desperate for lower CO2 levels and greater miles per gallon.

Drunk and Charged

Police in Switzerland did not have far to go to catch drink- driver Juergen Berger. Berger, 36, was three times over the drink-drive limit when he lost control of his car and ploughed into a police station in Spiez- Gesigen.

Roll Out Those Classic Motors . . .

Setting off from East Park, Hull, and travelling to Sewerby Fields, Bridlington, around 150 cars, buses and motorcycles - some from as early as the 1930s - are expected to line up for the 39th East Coast Run. Recently taken over by the East Yorkshire Thoroughbred Car Club (EYTCC), the run has seen a resurgence of late and around 400 classic motors are expected at the seaside resort on Sunday, June 10.

A Polite Way to Drive

Singer Shelley Preston was born in 1964 in London. She performed with Bucks Fizz from 1985 to 1990, before working as a backing vocalist with Brian May, INXS, Jason Donovan and Belinda Carlisle. What do you drive?

Cherokee Spirit

Engines: It's an SUV therefore a diesel is a must, not only to keep fuel bills to sensible levels but also to better exploit the Cherokee's abilities. For towing, traversing rough terrain or simply making light work of the daily stop-start it's a no-brainer. Launch cars came with a 2.5-litre unit, although the later 2.8 is much better - as is the auto option. EXTERIOR: More rounded and compact-looking than the older, more boxy Cherokee, this variant appears more modern and refined. Ground cle...

Being a Daddy's Girl

With Father's Day looming I find myself lazily reminiscing about my childhood. My father broke every parenting rule to be found in a parenting manual, which is probably why I tried so hard to be Daddy's girl.

Sales On the Up for Daihatsu Cars

March - the UK's biggest month for overall sales - showed a 60.8 per cent increase for the marque. Registrations were 1,024 units compared with 637 sales in March 2006.

Vintage Leather

A Few years ago Belstaff jackets were black and made from waxed cotton. They kept a generation of British bikers dry. Then the company went bust, the name was sold to Italy and a new range of biker and fashion clothing is being launched.

A Great Korea Move

And it's Hyosung's sports bike - the GT650R - that we're testing this week. The machine - a fully-faired model with Suzuki derived 650cc V- twin engine and a headlight reminiscent of the fantastic MV Agusta F4 - has been getting a lot of press attention, there's even one on the long-term test fleet of a major magazine.

Future Perfect

Entries to design the van were invited in 2005, and more than 300 people submitted their ideas. The winning design, the Cargo S, was submitted by architect Paul Burchill and industrial designer Herve Delaby.

Motorhomes - Nifty for Fifties

Suddenly being 50 is fashionable. Think-tank boffins and market researchers have grasped what we all knew. People who are fifty are determined to enjoy themselves - they're fun loving, free, wealthier than ever and they're living adventure-seeking lives. And one of the ways they've been enjoying themselves is aboard a motorhome.

A Priest Told Me That Once You Become a Priest, You Can No Longer Be Yourself - I Never Believed That

In School pinafores and falling-down socks, we were tiny caldrons of aspiration. We had badgered parish priest Father Gallagher for months to become altar girls.