Ben
14-10-03, 04:00 PM
It's All Nova For Concorde
A Patchway man who bought a Concorde nosecone from an online auction is facing prosecution after fitting it to the front of his car and attempting to break the land speed record on the M32. Eighteen year old Kevin Sharon, whose grandfather worked at Filton on the supersonic craft during the seventies, purchased the former British Airways Concorde nosecone for a mere ?800 after successfully bidding for it on the popular auction website eBay.
With the entire Concorde fleet being decommissioned later this month, thousands of collectors around the world have already been eyeing up sections of the planes for their own collections. But while Air France is planning to sell off sections of one of its fleet at auction by Christie?s in Paris on November 15th, British Airways currently has no plans to follow suit. "It?s not everyday you see a Vauxhall Nova SRi speeding down the M32 with a Concorde nosecone welded to the front of it.?
The Arresting Officer
So exactly how the front end of one of their most recognisable aircraft came to be up for sale on the internet in the first place is currently a question being asked at the highest level. Increasing the embarrassment further it is believed the seller mistyped the auction reserve price, missing at least one zero from the end. But under online trading laws once an item has met its reserve it must be sold. One swift credit card transaction later and a piece of Bristolian aviation history was winging its way home to North Bristol. But just two short weeks later and the Patchway boy racer was arrested on the M32 for speeding, displaying illegal number plates, possession of offensive graphics, and driving without a pilot?s licence.
Avon and Somerset Police arresting officer recalled the stop to That Be Bristle saying: ?It?s not everyday you see a Vauxhall Nova SRi speeding down the M32 with a Concorde nosecone welded to the front of it, it was quite an incredible sight. He?d done quite a good job on it mind, he even had some vinyl letters cut for the front that said ?Concorde? in a funky green font. But driving at 72mph in a 70mph zone is breaking the law, even if part of your vehicle is more accustomed to moving at supersonic speeds. To be honest it?s lucky we stopped him really because I don?t think his remould tyres would?ve held together much over eighty, then we?d be looking at having to remove a nosecone out of the roof of Tesco.?
The car/plane hybrid is currently being inspected by the Vehicle Inspectorate at their Lawrence Hill workshops to see if it complies with both Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation Authority safety standards before allowing it back onto the road. Sharon in the meantime is waiting to see if charges will be brought against him for criminal stupidity. HS
http://www.thatbebristle.co.uk/news/1003/concorde.htm
:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
A Patchway man who bought a Concorde nosecone from an online auction is facing prosecution after fitting it to the front of his car and attempting to break the land speed record on the M32. Eighteen year old Kevin Sharon, whose grandfather worked at Filton on the supersonic craft during the seventies, purchased the former British Airways Concorde nosecone for a mere ?800 after successfully bidding for it on the popular auction website eBay.
With the entire Concorde fleet being decommissioned later this month, thousands of collectors around the world have already been eyeing up sections of the planes for their own collections. But while Air France is planning to sell off sections of one of its fleet at auction by Christie?s in Paris on November 15th, British Airways currently has no plans to follow suit. "It?s not everyday you see a Vauxhall Nova SRi speeding down the M32 with a Concorde nosecone welded to the front of it.?
The Arresting Officer
So exactly how the front end of one of their most recognisable aircraft came to be up for sale on the internet in the first place is currently a question being asked at the highest level. Increasing the embarrassment further it is believed the seller mistyped the auction reserve price, missing at least one zero from the end. But under online trading laws once an item has met its reserve it must be sold. One swift credit card transaction later and a piece of Bristolian aviation history was winging its way home to North Bristol. But just two short weeks later and the Patchway boy racer was arrested on the M32 for speeding, displaying illegal number plates, possession of offensive graphics, and driving without a pilot?s licence.
Avon and Somerset Police arresting officer recalled the stop to That Be Bristle saying: ?It?s not everyday you see a Vauxhall Nova SRi speeding down the M32 with a Concorde nosecone welded to the front of it, it was quite an incredible sight. He?d done quite a good job on it mind, he even had some vinyl letters cut for the front that said ?Concorde? in a funky green font. But driving at 72mph in a 70mph zone is breaking the law, even if part of your vehicle is more accustomed to moving at supersonic speeds. To be honest it?s lucky we stopped him really because I don?t think his remould tyres would?ve held together much over eighty, then we?d be looking at having to remove a nosecone out of the roof of Tesco.?
The car/plane hybrid is currently being inspected by the Vehicle Inspectorate at their Lawrence Hill workshops to see if it complies with both Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation Authority safety standards before allowing it back onto the road. Sharon in the meantime is waiting to see if charges will be brought against him for criminal stupidity. HS
http://www.thatbebristle.co.uk/news/1003/concorde.htm
:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: