Hello everyone. It’s been a little while since I grabbed the headlines in this blog, but then I’m a modest little chap really, living quietly next to my best friend, the XK140 Jaguar, in the museum’s Mill Gallery. I’m quite happy to let others make the news while I amuse the children in the museum. However, I’ve been keeping up with the latest news on these so-called driverless cars and my antifreeze is starting to bubble. I have to speak!
It all started when my guardian Graham (you know, the young one at the museum) sent out this rather fetching photo of me having fun in the snow. See for yourself – I do seem to be ageing very well even if I say it myself.
Anyhow, back to the point, a very observant recipient of Graham’s message was concerned that Father Christmas’s hat might be blocking my driver’s view of the road and even suggested that I might be committing some sort of motoring offence. Well, I WAS offended! DRIVER indeed! Have you ever seen anyone sitting in my driver’s seat? See those headlights, well those are my eyes and I haven’t hit anything (much) in the last 25 years – that hat is no problem at all!
My cooling system was churning, my suspension went all wobbly and my doors and bonnet went into a flap ……. but I’m alright now. I have been far too modest for far too long! Time to speak out.
Twenty-five years ago, I was driving around the streets of Bourton on the Water and even around very big towns all by myself – I was even given a good rubbing down by a very nice bunch of firemen. (I’m told you can see me on something called your tub I think it was).
So, when you read about all these NEW self-drive, auto-ominous cars, just remember I was doing all that 25 years ago. Don’t you think that was impressive? Do you think that was a WORLD first? Could I be famous? Do you think Mr Google might want to talk to me? Oooh, I’m getting quite excited.
Ah, hang on …… Graham has just whispered in my wing mirror. It seems that driving on the road without a driver, 25 years go, may not have been entirely legal, he said something about a crusher – not sure what that is but it doesn’t sound very nice. I think I’ll just have to keep my bonnet down for a while.
Have a wheely Happy Christmas and don’t forget to come and see me next year. I’m told we reopen on 11th February 2017. Toot toot.