LJK Setright

[Blenheim Boy]

Originally Posted by Ashley James

Blenheim Boy

I think you're taking this all rather seriously, cars are cars are
cars and even Formula One, which has to be the dullest and most self
important sport on the planet, shows that they are sabotaged by
traffic jams. If you want fun get a motorbike and if you want proper
motorsport watch Moto GP, where you'll see real skill.

Cars keep improving and each new model is usually better than its
predecessor. Porsche, Ferrari and the Honda S2000 don't have 4WS now,
so I think it's reasonable to conclude that, apart from the odd Limo
or Renault, most companies (American Fire Engines excluded!) have
found they do better without.

LJKS was a brilliant writer and a friend of Dr Adam Kimberley who
writes for my websites and nursed him towards the end. The styles are
similar but Adam is more amusing IMO. He wasn't very technical and he
was often inaccurate, so I think it's better to assume that he liked
revvy motorcars that he could throw around, though where he did that
I'm not sure, round here we're lucky to get over the statutory 37 mph
dictated by today's sanctimonious motorist who is at the front of most
queues.

Yours without 4WS and preferring a softer ride.

Ash

Ash,

Well, if you think I'm taking it all too seriously, then I will concede that 4WS was not a commercial success... but that does not diminish its brilliance.

By and large, manufacturers are satisfied with passive rear wheel steering and, most significantly, so are their customers.

I posted a link to an LJKS article on 4WS and in your initial and subsequent replies, you have questioned its integrity. I am compelled to reply, in good faith, with the wish of raising awareness of the qualities of 4WS.

If you don't care for 4WS, OK. Personally, I don't care for motorbikes. Now, you are welcome to write a reply telling me how I'm missing out, how I'm ignorant to the joys of bikes, etc. And I will read your message, take your comments on board and perhaps reconsider my views.

However, imagine I was to write a message saying; "Hey, how about those motorbikes? Bit impractical, eh? Rather dangerous, bikers must be mad! They never caught on like cars did they? Where does the shopping go?". It's likely you would be tempted to reply and point out that all of those comments are very, very ill-considered!

So when an individual makes vague, inaccurate comments like 'cars corner better without 4WS', without presenting any kind of evidence, let alone a single reason as to why and how, then I am compelled to reply with my objection.

I'm assuming that you own, or have owned, a Bristol. And perhaps, in your time as an owner, you have had to take issue with some ignorant - probably a young motoring journalist - who has questioned the integrity of a Bristol, simply because it employs a live axle or a separate chassis and because their beloved bloody Ferrari uses neither, the Bristol must be nonsense.

Please take my replies in good faith. My hope is that if anyone else actually cares, they may learn something new about 4WS and cars in general.

Thank you for bringing Dr Adam Kimberly to my attention.

I find the 'sanctimonious motorist who is at the front of most
queues' is usually employing a Vauxhall Corsa and they continue to do 37mph when they traverse a '30' zone. Lane discipline, use of mirrors and indicators is also beyond their abilities. Their obliviousness is infuriating.

BB