Technician’s Update

The age old argument about modern cars and methods comes in for a sideways look. Mike Humble is your ringmaster. There’s a great great fondness for the Marina these days but, back in 1980, […]

Mike Humble When I was just a slip of a young man, I got completely fed up with working on cars in a dealership Monday to Friday 8.30 to 5.30 […]

To conclude the 30th anniversary of Austin Rover’s family saloon, Mike Humble recalls a smile-inducing tale of Montego mayhem… Those with intimate experience will know that older generation four cylinder BLARG power […]

Mike Humble You’ve heard it before – never buy a builder’s house or mechanics car. It makes sense because who in their right mind wants to spend hour upon hour […]

Mike Humble So many times have I moaned about the difficulty in service/repair of cars. This is probably why my own 75 1.8 scores so highly in my books as […]

Mike Humble When there is nothing on the box I love nothing more than to trawl through the on-line car adverts with a big mug of hot sweet tea. The […]

Mike Humble It would be fair to say that I am never happier when I am covered in muck and oil – though a belly full of Lamb tikka pathia […]

Mike Humble As we walk skip or stumble along the path of life, we meet some interesting people along the way. Every profession has their own mavericks and oddballs, but […]

Mike Humble When I went from the busy world of High Street retail motor parts to a small and remote Rover dealer, the customer base couldn’t have been more different between he […]

Mike Humble When I used to put a price out for a job whilst working as a mobile mechanic, I would always ask if the potential customer had obtained a quote from […]

Mike Humble I was wondering to myself just the other day what was I to do with three days off on the trot… However, no sooner had I returned home from my last day at […]

Mike Humble   Never has a more true word been spoken at the phrase ‘laughter is the best medicine’ – unless you actually die laughing that is! My own little world […]

Mike Humble Around this time of year, my hat goes off to the army of breakdown folk and mobile mechanics who sit in a lonely cab. Radio 2’s warbling in […]

Mike Humble Most of us would probably acknowledge that, in its earliest incarnation, the Vauxhall Vectra failed by a country mile to capture the hearts and souls of the British motorist. […]

Mike Humble I will, as many of you may now know, equally applaud excellent service as well as lambast the shonky or slate the slapdash. Anyone who entrusts their motor to […]

Words and photography: Mike Humble We all must have seen the adverts on the TV or read in magazines about the number of ‘quality approved’ businesses or garage schemes. The […]

Mike Humble Getting a deal is what makes many of tick, stealing a bargain while saving a bung makes life all the more sweeter for the wheeling dealing petrol head […]

After the decision was made to tackle LEJoG in his partner Karin and his ADO16, Alexander finds some unexpected prep-work was needed. Words and photography: Alexander Boucke Where to start? […]

Once again, we delve into the toolbox of tales from the sharp end of the motor trade. We share a ramble about some sorry practices even the established garages will play […]

If it’s body filler filler in the sills or exposed stereo wiring insulated with sellotape, most of us at some point have enjoyed a good old fashioned bodge up. Especially if it actually […]

Even small but reputable garages can muck up even the simple and routine tasks, but this one caused much head scratching for all involved… Words & Pictures Mike Humble / […]