Who designed the VW Beetle?

Who designed the VW Beetle?

Ferdinand Porsche? Wrong!

The Beetle was actaually designed by Hans Ledwinka a Czechoslovakian designer with Tatra as the

Tatra 97.

Tatra sued VW but this was set aside when Nazi Germany invaded Czechoslovakia, but the law suit was sucessfully reopened in the 1960's and  Tatra were awarded 3M DM.

Here is an extact from Wikipedia:

Resemblance to KdF-Wagen / Volkswagen Beetle

Both the streamlined design and the technical specifications, especially the air-cooled flat-four engine mounted in the back, give the T97 a striking resemblance to the KdF-Wagen or Volkswagen, the later Beetle. It is believed that Porsche used Tatra's designs since he was under huge pressure to design the Volkswagen quickly and cheaply^[2]
. According to the books Tatra - The Legacy of Hans Ledwinka and Car Wars, Adolf Hitler called the Tatra 'this is the car for my roads'.^[3][2] Ferdinand Porsche later admitted 'to have looked over Ledwinka's shoulders' while designing the Volkswagen.^[4][2]
Tatra sued Porsche for damages, and Porsche was willing to settle. However, Hitler canceled this, saying he 'would settle the matter.' ^[5] When Czechoslovakia was invaded by the Nazis, the production of the T97 was immediately halted, and the lawsuit dropped. After the war, Tatra reopened the lawsuit against Volkswagen. In 1967, the matter was settled when Volkswagen paid Tatra 3,000,000 Deutsche Mark in compensation.

1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tatra_T97
2. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hans_Ledwinka#cite_note-wilson-0

So if you're asked the question on Masternind or Eggheads you know the real answer.

The storm in Kirkintilloch

This week we had a storm in Kirkintilloch, when winds reached around 80 mph for a whole day. This was the biggest Blaw since the "Twechar Tornado" a few years ago.

Hre is a report from the kirkintilloch Herald: 

Warning as storms set to move south

Published on Sunday 11 December 2011 10:05

Stormy conditions that brought havoc to Scotland are expected to return to other parts of the UK this week, forecasters said.

Wind speeds up to 165mph were recorded during the worst of the storm that hit parts of Scotland and northern England, bringing down trees and power lines, causing disruption to roads and closing schools.
As Scotland and northern England recovered from the wind damage, there were more warnings of storms further south - with forecasters saying wind speeds could reach 100mph later in the week.
Strong winds are forecast to return to the UK in the next few days, but not at the force experienced last Thursday.
The Met Office has issued yellow warnings for strong winds and heavy rain on Monday night for most of England, with the South East expected to be hit hard.

Windy weather is expected to continue into Tuesday, with the potential for "severe gales" or storm-force winds across Northern Ireland and the southern half of Britain. There could also be frequent, heavy showers, bringing the risk of surface water flooding.
Aisling Creevey, a forecaster with MeteoGroup, the weather forecasting arm of the Press Association, said it was too early to tell where the winds would hit.
She said the country could expect winds of between 80mph and 100mph.
A Met Office spokesman said: "Strong winds on Monday evening have the potential to cause some disruption, especially in areas exposed to the south. In addition, rain will turn persistent and heavy, bringing the risk of surface water flooding over south-west England and Wales."
Engineers are still battling to restore power to hundreds of homes in Scotland, as freezing temperatures hit. Scottish Hydro said huge efforts were made, particularly in Tayside and central areas of Scotland, to bring the number down from about 29,000 on Friday - and from about 105,000 at its peak.

http://www.kirkintilloch-herald.co.uk/news/warning_as_storms_set_to_move_south_1_2003505

The storm blew down a 6ft high pine fence between our garden and a meighbours.

Why Haven't I been Blogging Lately?

Sorry for the lack of blogging over the past few months..........

Not much has been happening lately, and I'm not chaffeuring at the moment ..... in fact I've been working part time at the Car Auctions in Glasgow .... I'm still driving a lot though, about 60-70 cars a day, all kinds. from silly wee Peugeots and Rovers to Mercedes, Lexus, Lotus.

What are the worst cars I've driven? .... I don't like Smart cars or the Range Rover Discovery, and I find it difficult getting into a Lotus these days .... the best cars (surprisingly) the SsangYong Rodius .... which is also arguably the ugliest car in the World.

The other reason I haven't blogged? ........... I forgot my log-in details....... auld age catching up with me ....

Look out for more Updates from me soon  .........

Scottish Tours and Canal Walk.

@sansdyschauffeur sillhouette

Scottish Tours

I realised I hadn't added any posts to my Blog recently, so here's a rundown on what I've been up to.

Over the past wek or so I have done a few Scottish Tours, firstly a mini-tour of Edinburgh and Stirling, and a Tour of Loch  Lomond and Inveraray for a Mother and Daughter from Singapore, then a Tour of Burns country and Brig o' Doon, with an American Group comprising Mother, Daughter, and Mother's Sister.

The second Tour arose from a misunderstanding by the Travel Agent, when they had asked to see Brigadoon (which is impossible as it only appears from the mist once every hundred years). However they enjoyed the Day, including Burns Cottage and the new Museum, and were delighted when they learned that Brig o' Doon was where the Witch (Cutty Sark) grabbed the tail of Tam O' Shanters' horse as he rode over the bridge. We all had our sillhouettes done at the Museum, and mine is shown above.

Canal Walk 

I've decided to get back into shape again, so I went on a short (5 mile) walk today from Kirkintilloch to The Stables Bar/Restaurant and back. It was a pleasantly cool morning, and there was not much traffic on the Canal, apart from a couple of Tour Boats, and I saw a couple of heron.

The Pyramids of Tenerife

Pyramids at Guimar

On a family holiday a few years ago we visited the Pyramids  at Guimar on Tenerife.

Although not discovered by him, they were brought to the notice of the World by Norwegian Explorer and Anthropologist Thor Heyerdahl, at that time a resident on the Island, and due to his intervention the Archaeology Department of La Laguna University carried out excavations, and  the site of the pyramids was purchased by the Fred. Olsen shipping company in order to protect and restore them.

At the time I made a video of our visit, and hope to post this later (when I have worked out how to transfer it to my computer).

More information about the Guimar Pyramids can be found at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pyramids_of_G%C3%BC%C3%ADmar



Kirkintilloch History

Finds from Barr Hill Fort near Kirkintilloch.

The placename Kirkintilloch is derived from Caerpentulach, a Celtic name (Fort at the end of the hillock). The fort referred to is the former Roman settlement and the hillock is a volcanic drumlin which would have offered a strategic viewpoint for miles to the West, North and East. This is sometimes taken literally as "Kirk in tilloch" (church in the field). Its long name is often shortened by locals to Kirkie, as reflected in a number of business names in the town.

A castle and church were recorded there in the 12th century. A small settlement grew and was granted Burgh status in 1211,amd were an important staging post for west-east journeys from Glasgow to eastern and north-eastern Scotland.

Antonine Wall Altar.

The castle was of some importance during the Wars of Independence, when an English garrison was stationed there. Soldiers from this castle were dispatched to arrest William Wallace at Robroyston and escorted him to Dumbarton Castle. The castle may have been attacked by Scottish forces under the bishop of Glasgow - certainly the castle was levelled in this period. The mot surrounded by a ditch can still be seen at the Peel Park.

Modern prosperity came with the construction of the Forth and Clyde Canal through the town in 1773, bringing the town to prominence as an inland port. The establishment of a railway link to Glasgow in the 1820s allowed Kirkintilloch to further develop as an industrial centre for Weaving and a major shipbuilding centre for both canal and ocean sailing. Today, Kirkintilloch is promoted as the "Canal Capital of Scotland", in which added pride has been taken since the completion of the Canal's recent regeneration project.

Another industry of note was iron founding, with the Lion Foundry and Star foundry achieving some repute. The most important products of the Lion Foundry were the famous red postboxes and Phoneboxes, produced in the town until 1984.

Kirkintilloch was a "dry town" for much of its recent history, with the sale of alcohol on public premises banned from 1923 until 1967. I remember having a pint in "The Antonine" in 1969 shortly after the Ban ended. The prohibition on the sale of alcohol had long been demanded by the Liberal Party and the temperance movement, both of which had a strong influence in the town in the early part of the 20th century, largely due to the perceived negative effects of alcohol on the town's inhabitants (some things don't change).

A National Scandal at Wallaces Well

Damage at Wallaces Well

A few days ago I was driving past Wallaces Well, when I noticed this damage,which took place recently.

Since 2003, two large housing developments have been constructed near the well, bringing a huge increase in car traffic. In the absence of proper signposting – or any effective traffic calming measures – the wall around the well has been repeatedly hit by vehicles, resulting in continual damage to the site. The photograph below shows the damage a couple of weeks ago:

Further damage can be viewed at the Robroyston Wallace Monument website on the Wallace's Well page.

As if things weren't bad enough for the well, another huge housing development has been announced which will take dwellings right up to the edge of this historic site, effectively obliterating the last remnants of green space in an area that has been described as being as historically important to Scotland as Bannockburn.

Can you imagine in the US a site of National Historic Importance being treated like this?

Can you imagine condos being built at The Alamo?

For the full story go to  http://discuss.glasgowguide.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=18968

Acknowledgements to "GLASGOW GUIDE"

Last First World War Veteran Dies aged 110

The last known combat veteran of the First World War has died at the age of 110, his family has said.

British-born Claude Stanley Choules, who was known as "Chuckles" by his comrades, joined the Royal Navy aged just 14 and witnessed the scuttling of the German fleet at Scapa Flow in 1919.

http://tiny.cc/7tnnp

Kirkintilloch Walks - Barr Hill Roman Fort

Less than two hours ago I was sitting on the old Furnace of the Cauldarium at the Bath House at Barr Hill Roman Fort.

On the way there on my walk along the Canal Towpath, I passed many traces of 18th & 19th Century Archaeology, including old Pit Buildings and Piers.

On the path leading up to Barr Hill there was also a WW2 Anti Aircraft gun enplacement foundation.

It is a beautiful morning, and I sat at the Fort for some time soaking up the atmosphere.

The Fort was excavated during the early 20th century, and when the 30 ft deep well was excavated, many finds were made, including Roman boots, bottles etc.

On the way back I passed an interesting 18th century building on the Canal near Shriva Basin, a two storey Stables Block.

Next I hope to make a further walk to the Fort, then Further along the  course of the Antonine Wall.

Kirkintilloch Walks - Reflections on Sawney Bean

Just back from this morning's 5 mile walk along the Forth and Clyde Canal.  Once again the tranquility was spoiled by Pedalphiles (Lycra Louts) intent on maintaining 20 miles per hour along the Towpath.

For some reason I started thinking about Sawney Bean, the 16th century Scottish Cannibal http://en.wikiped%20ia.org/wiki/Sawney_Bean

According to legend Alexander (Sawney) Bean was the head of an incestuous cannibalistic family, who oversaw a 25-year reign of murder and robbery from a hidden sea cave on the Ayrshire/Galloway coast in the 15th century. The cave most readily associated with Sawney and his nefarious clan is close to Ballantrae on Bennane head in Ayrshire.

There are numerous written sources detailing the account of Sawney and his family, and it has been suggested that the legend has its roots in real events.

Sawney Bean was born in the late 14th century, in a small East Lothian village not ten miles from Edinburgh. He began life as a hedger and ditcher, but, being prone to idleness and inclined towards dishonesty he ran away from home with a woman who was as viciously inclined as himself. Having no means to make a living they set up home in a sea cave in Galloway supporting themselves by robbing and murdering travellers and locals, and surviving on their victim's pickled and salted flesh. In time their family grew to an incestuous gang of 46 sons, daughters, grandsons and granddaughters. Their reign of terror did not go unnoticed: for one hundreds of people went missing over the years, and the Beans became so successful in their butchery that they cast unwanted limbs into the sea. These were washed up on distant and local beaches, much to the horror of the coastal communities. In time the areas reputation reached the ears of the authorities and, in these suspicious times, many innocent people were executed for Sawney's crimes. The hardest hit were innkeepers as, more often than not, the missing person was last seen in an inn or lodgings: suspicion naturally falling on those who had seen them last. This happened on so many occasions that numerous innkeepers fled to take up other less risky occupations, and the area became a shunned and depopulated place.

People were horrified when they heard about the crimes of Sawney Bean and his family and decided to give them a punishment even more barbaric. The execution was a slow one: the men bled to death after their hands and legs were cut off, and the women were burned alive after they were forced to watch the execution of the men. John Nicholson tells us about the execution as follows "...they all died without the least sign of repentance, but continued cursing and vending the most dreadful imprecations to the very last gasp of life."

Sundays walk along the Forth and Clyde Canal

Just back from my morning walk along the Forth and Clyde Canal, from Kirkintilloch to the Stables and back (about 5 miles).

Lovely sunny day so unfortunately this brought out the cyclists and Joggers, but listened to Butterworths "Banks of Green Willow" on the headphones http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P8Q9dz1kse8  .

The Puffer ""Maryhill"

Went on a short (2 miles) walk this morning along the Canal, and to Kirkintilloch Marina, where I saw the puffer "Maryhill" a replica built on Bute. Also at the Marina was a canal barge "Tweezle". Weather not so good today with some rain, so hope to go a decent walk on Sunday.

Aircraft wreckage on the Campsie Hills, Scotland

A few years ago, while cross-country skiing across the Camsie Hills above Lennoxtown in Scotland, we came across Aircraft wreckage just below the summit of Meikle Bin.

We later did some research and discovered it was a Fairey Firefly which crashed on the mountain in the Fifties. http://www.scotcrash.homecall.co.uk/site19.htm

I have returned on several occasions, and the wreckage is still there.

Often on a sunny day (yes we do sometimes have them in Scotland) while driving along the "Crow Road" between Lennoxtown and Fintry, you can spot the wreckage, just below the summit reflecting the sunlight.

Welcome to Sandy's Blog

Welcome to Sandy's Blog, which I hope to update on a daily basis.

This is @sandyschauffeur on Twitter gone LARGE.

I'll be giving you news of specail offers from AMBIENCE CHAUFFEUR SERVICE , news about my Caravan Project, and Rants about things that annoy me.

I'll also be blogging about my love for Scotland and France.

Kirkintilloch Walks

Just back from a 5 mile walk along the Forth and Clyde Canal from Kirkintilloch Town Centre to The Stables and back. Lots of pleasure cruisers on the Canal today, and some interesting boats moored along the Canal, including the Wee Spark.

The Wee Spark is a puffer built to one third the size of the real thing as in Tales of Para Handy. Interestingly Krkintilloch was one of the main centres for building Puffers in Scotland.

Doctor Who star Elisabeth Sladen dies

I was saddened to hear of the death of Elizabeth Sladen, who played Sarah Jane Smith in Doctor Who.
Even when Doctor Who was, quite frankly rubbish in the early 70's, I still watched it because Sarah Jane was in it, she will be  sadly missed. http://tiny.cc/zi4ww 

West End Walks of Glasgow

West End Walks Tours of Glasgow offer you a wonderful way to experience the city close up. If you enjoy walking and are reasonably fit and healthy then a our tour of Glasgow is a great way to find out all those little places that would take you an age to discover on your own. Why save cash on a cheap flight ,cheap room

All walkers  must have wet weather gear or prepare 

to get soaked.There is a lot of walking involved, but it will be walked

at a pace to suit party .

This is a fellow travelers view of his home city. 

Great exercise  wear suitable clothing and comfy shoes
Walks for 1 to 6 people developed around the interests of our visitors.

West West End Tours  of Glasgow offer you a wonderful way to experience the city close up. If you enjoy walking and are reasonably fit  then a Glasgow walking tour is a great way to find out about sights that would take you ages to discover on your own. Glasgow is a wonderful city with great history. 

Let us tell you what it was like was  to grow up in the city.

On the tour you will meet fellow tourists and hear of their adventures from around the world .  We are based in the west end and start from the Charing Cross Area . The walks cost  £7
We specialize in walks for 1 to 6 people developed around the interests of our visitors.

Buy your Walking tour now then phone to book time.
Or pay on the day .  

-------------------------------------------------------------
MONDAY NIGHT     5.30
TUESDAY                5.30
 WEDNESDAY          5.30
 THURSDAY              5.30
 FRIDAY                    5.30
  SATURDAY                    10.00 
  SUNDAY                          11.00
-----------------------------------------------------------------
HOW TO BOOK
MOBILE           07902081097
ELdouglas.baird1@ntlworld.com
or contact your hotel who will let us know.
 
OTHER FORMS OF CONTACT 
Youtube          BAIRDSTRAVEL
 SKYPE            bairdstravel  
TWITTER           BAIRDSTRAVEL
FACEBOOK         DOUGLAS BAIRD
SCOTSTER          DOUGIE BAIRD 

New Volkswagen Beetle gets double show reveal

Volkswagen is unveiling the next Beetle with a lavish reveal at both the Shanghai and New York motor shows. http://tiny.cc/oy9lg

Golf Offer

Round of Golf and Refreshments for £15 / Brazilian Blow Dry - http://www.groupon.co.uk/deals/glasgow/rowallen-castle/338684



Pere Lachaise

Here's an interesting link posted by @Perfectly_Paris on Twitter aboute Pere Lachaise Cemetery http://tiny.cc/yal68 

Pilot refuses to land when BBC presenter has heart attack mid-air

Pilot refuses to land when BBC presenter has heart attack mid-air  http://tiny.cc/rbtoc

Kirkintilloch

Sun is shining this morning in Kirkintilloch. I picked up some leaftets at the Library this week about walks in Kirkintilloch, so thats what I'll do today.... might see you around.

Ex-EastEnder taking over the Rovers

Ex-EastEnder taking over the Rovers

http://tiny.cc/ljycx

See my new Ambience Car Service in Glasgow Blog at http://ambienceglasgow.blogspot.com/



Are You Being Served? star Trevor Bannister dies at 76

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-13098312 

World's oldest man dies at114 http://tiny.cc/c78a3

MG has announced the launch of a new Sports Saloon, featuring a pipe-rack, and a pocket to hold your Wether's Originals .... http://www.mgcars.org.uk/mgccz/Articles/modernmotor.pdf

Agony for Leslie Phillips as his Bond Girl wife commits suicide


Read more:  http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1376148/Police-investigating-Leslie-Phillipss-Bond-girl-wife-Angela-Scoular-dies.html#ixzz1JRAdiITf

flight_offer

  

Take an early summer break! Flights from £29.99 one way inc taxes. Grab a cheap flight for May & June! http://ow.ly/4z26i

                        Many of my twitter followers will wonder who the young man

                        in my Twitter background can be.

                     It is in fact yours truly and the photo was taken on the Left Bank in Paris in the mid seventies.

Cheap flights to #Amsterdam with #KLM, from £79 return incl taxes and charges http://ow.ly/4xjBj

TheBeardmore Thankyou! RT @EntourageUK: Congrats! Update: The Beardmore named Conference Hotel of the Year 2011 http://ow.ly/1c97Ik

  

Sandy's First Blog

This is the first posting of Sandy's Blog, which I hope to update on a weekly basis.

This is @sandyschauffeur on Twitter gone LARGE.

I'll be giving you news of specail offers from AMBIENCE CHAUFFEUR SERVICE , news about my Caravan Project, and Rants about things that annoy me.

I'll also be blogging about my love for Scotland and France.